Observation: Grizzly Gulch

Observation Date
2/12/2025
Observer Name
Hathcock
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » Grizzly Gulch
Location Name or Route
Grizzly Gulch
Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Cracking
Collapsing
Poor Snowpack Structure
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Problem #1 Comments
Sensitive soft and hard slab wind drifted snow. Wind was constantly moderate with strong gusts from the Southwest on ridgeline. Snow was swirling in the flats, while wind exposed slopes created hard slab wind drifts. Cornice were very sensitive and a few had collapsed, before I got there, on the ridgeline of microwave and grizzly gulch.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #2 Comments
The poor structure is still present. Rounding grains seem to be the culprit in our deep persistent slab reoccurrence, and I still don't trust them.
Comments
Afternoon tour in Grizzly Gulch; up the ridge separating Microwave and GG. Sensitive cornice were observed with fresh debris on leeward aspects from collapsing cornice (photo 1). I toured in the area on Monday and these were not present. The exposed slopes that were wind affected became hard and cracked like lightning (photo 2). The repeater on the main skin track at the beginning is filled in again and smooth looking.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
None
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
None
Coordinates