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Observation: Scotts Backdoor

Observation Date
3/2/2025
Observer Name
Hardesty
Region
Salt Lake » Park City Ridgeline » Scotts Backdoor
Location Name or Route
Scotts Backdoor
Weather
Weather Comments
Cooler than previous days; light southwest wind became moderate around lunchtime.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Faceted Loose
Wind Crust
Melt-Freeze Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
Some soft settled powder in wind/sun sheltered terrain above about 9300'. This "soft settled powder" is another name for recrystallized near-surface facets. In some areas, these surface facets are capped by small diameter surface hoar. The new storm snow may bond poorly to this weak surface snow (it's not exceptionally loose) depending on a few factors. Photos below of weak surface snow. 'V' symbol denotes surface hoar (1990 “International Classification for Seasonal Snow on the Ground”). The second photo is after I've dragged my ski pole across the loose surface snow,.
Red Flags
Red Flags Comments
None
Snow Profile
Aspect
Northwest
Elevation
9,700'
Slope Angle
0°
Comments
Interesting to see what you find when you look. Found a 4mm layer of diurnal facets and some surface hoar buried 45 cm deep at two northwest facing spots at 9700' and 9300'. No propagation with ECT (ECTX x 2), but a shovel shear easily elicited full propagation on this very thin weak layer sandwiched between pencil hard layers. I don't believe there has been any activity on this layering but worth noting.
That said, primary concerns in the coming days will be with new snow instabilities and isolated repeater slopes.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
None
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
None
Coordinates