Observation: Alta Periphery

Observation Date
1/3/2026
Observer Name
Kapacinskas, Nagle
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » Alta Periphery
Location Name or Route
Alta Perimeter
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Wind Direction
West
Wind Speed
Strong
Weather Comments
Skies were overcast and cloud layer was low through out the morning. The real story was with the wind at the top of the canyon. When traveling through Catherine's winds were predominantly out the west. Later in the tour we traveled to the saddle between Rocky Point & Point Supreme where we observed heavy transport happening with winds out of the south & east rapidly moving snow onto the Alta side. Transport was happening both at the ridgeline and lower in dry fork out of the east. My take away is that with winds as strong as they were & swirling at the top of the canyon, I would expect to find wind slabs at high & mid elevations on all aspects. Video 1 is of the ridgeline. Video 2 is wind transport happening lower in Dry Fork.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Melt-Freeze Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments

Riding conditions/coverage have greatly improved with this last storm at the top of LCC. The CERC & new snow combined with the spatial variability of the CERC thickness at higher elevations has me sticking to lower angle slopes for now. The great news is the turns continue to remain excellent on lower angle slopes. We traveled out to the top of SE facing bowl between Rocky Ponit & Point Supreme and the top of the slope was heavily scoured.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Red Flags Comments
Heavy wind loading with winds coming out of the west, south, and east on our tour around the Alta periphery.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Video
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
Coordinates