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Observation: Wolverine Bowl

Observation Date
11/9/2024
Observer Name
Kelly/Shade
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Wolverine Bowl
Location Name or Route
Patsy/Wolverine Bowl
Weather
Sky
Clear
Wind Speed
Calm
Weather Comments
Clear skies, calm winds with no new snow.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Faceted Loose
Wind Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
Foot travel on all aspects above 9,000' in elevation. Northerly aspects held cold dry snow that is starting to facet from the top to the bottom. High elevation easterly and westerly aspects were still dry snow with moist facets near the ground. Southerly aspects were melting quickly and there was free water running down the rocks on south aspects up to 10,000'. Average snow depth was 8"-16" with deeper drifts up to 30" in some areas along the ridge tops. On steep north facing terrain (above 10,400') we were able to initiate loose dry facet surface sloughing (less than 1/2" deep). The snowpack was still quite thin with lots of rocks both visibile and not.
Photo of wind sculpted snow surface northeast facing Wolverine Bowl with south facing Big Cottonwood Canyon in the backdrop
Photo of faceted snow surface north facing 10,000' elevation
Photo of north facing Wolverine Cirque
Snow Profile
Aspect
Northwest
Elevation
10,500'
Comments
Mainly dry faceted snow with the rain crust from prior to the storm on October 28/29th. There was no slab over the weak snow in this area and no signs of current wind loading. There is snow available above 10,000' in the event we get a wind event before the next storm.
Snow on the south-west aspects had dry facets underneath the October 28/29 rain crust ( that is breaking down). Snowpack at this site was thinner (12").
Today's Observed Danger Rating
None
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
None
Coordinates