Observation: Empire Pass

Observation Date

1/10/2026

Observer Name

T. Matthews WPT AIARE Rec 1.

Region

Salt Lake » Park City Ridgeline » Empire Pass

Location Name or Route

Empire Pass Bonanza Flats.

Weather

Sky

Clear

Wind Direction

Northeast

Wind Speed

Light

Weather Comments

Winds in our terrain today were out of the NE in the morning hours. Had loaded small S and SE terrain features into 4F+ slabs one to two feet deep. These slabs likely formed yesterday through last night, and were stubborn to triggers. Temps seemed as forecasted. Low to mid 20's.

Snow Characteristics

New Snow Depth

10"

New Snow Density

Low

Snow Surface Conditions

Powder

Snow Characteristics Comments

Most recent storm snow consisted of 10" of cold smoke low density Utah gold. Steep south in the mid elevation band will likely have a thin crust on it tomorrow morning.

Red Flags

Recent Avalanches

Wind Loading

Poor Snowpack Structure

Red Flags Comments

Observed red flags today. Poor snowpack structure. The winds were transporting snow in a variety of directions off the top of Clayton's today. Recent avalanches reported within the past 48 hours, and I'd suspect we will hear about a handful that were triggered today.

Avalanche Problem #1

Problem

New Snow

Trend

Decreasing Danger

Problem #1 Comments

No signs of instability in the newest storm snow in the areas we traveled today. Mid Elevation band. You had to find fatter and stiffer pockets of wind drifted snow to get any cracking.

Avalanche Problem #2

Problem

Persistent Weak Layer

Trend

Same

Problem #2 Comments

The PWL is becoming more stubborn, and displays no signs of instability. No cracking or collapsing in our mid elevation band travels today. Could not get CT's to initiate failure, nor get propagation in the PWL's while performing ECT's. Same test results from 2 other groups in the same zone.

Comments

Photo 1. Snowpack Structure.

Photo 2. Cracking in stubborn wind slabs.

Photo 3. 1' 4F+ wind slab running a few feet on a 31 degree slope.

Today's Observed Danger Rating

Moderate

Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating

Moderate

Coordinates

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