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Observation: Toledo Bowl

Observation Date
1/3/2025
Observer Name
Hardesty, Wilson, and Keeling
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » Toledo Bowl
Location Name or Route
Flagstaff-Toledo
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Moderate to strong southwest winds. Significant transport noted along the highest ridgelines.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
8"
New Snow Density
High
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
Dense and warm. Lots of small diameter graupel but seemed packed in. Slightly damp into the mid elevations.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Wind Loading
Cracking
Collapsing
Rapid Warming
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Experience cracking and collapsing along the Cottonwood ridgeline from false Flag to Flag proper.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
Three avalanches noted from today's travels. Travel was Flagstaff ridge to Flagstaff proper, down Toledo Pass and back to LCC.
Superior naturalled in the very early morning hours, triggered by a cornice fall.
Upper Days 2 - these two size 2 and 2.5 avalanches pulled out to the ground on facets above the oldest melt freeze crust above the dirt. Trigger is unknown but likely triggered remotely from the ridge or triggered via cornice fall as there was a skin track along the ridge before we arrived.
Surprised to not see significant avalanches in Holy Toledo, north facing Cardiff Bowl, LSB, the Bowl or the Ridge or anywhere north of the ridge. Granted the light was flat but hard slabs failing on the PWL would stick out.
Comments
We looked and looked for weaknesses adjacent to Tuesday's suncrust but we could not find any. Still, evidence is evidence from pockety avalanches triggered on the Emma ridges on Thursday. https://utahavalanchecenter.org/avalanche/90898
Video
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
None
Coordinates