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Observation: Electric Lake

Observation Date
12/6/2013
Observer Name
Darce Trotter/ Steve Cote
Region
Skyline » Huntington Canyon » Electric Lake
Location Name or Route
Lower Electric Lake Area
Weather
Sky
Clear
Wind Speed
Calm
Weather Comments
a balmy -15 C at 0900 per Mammoth Cottonwood this AM, no wind early in the day, winds had done there damage just as last cold front arrived with hourly averages 35-40 and gusts upper 50's out of the west for a few hours on Tuesday. seems as though most of the snow fell starting then and after, no snow in trees on exposed ridges or much of anywhere. last storm not much of a snow producer as things have settled out now, still need better coverage. Winds started up about noon today and I imagine they will continue to increase as next storm approaches.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
5"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments

Getting around is improving slowly, but you must tread lightly, easy on the throttle, most turns involved the entire snowpack. 50 cm at Miller Flats and cleaned 10 cm off interval board, old tracks are not even covered, brush, rocks, and windfall still very visible (which is a good thing). Wind crust down 5" varied a little in thickness over different aspects and elevations, but seems fairly well distributed, is deteriorating due to shallow snowpack, gradient is eating it away. East aspects were scoured with hurricane over a week ago, so overall pack is slightly improved, allowing a little more access, but extreme terrain still has all rocks and boulder anchors only partially buried.

Overall pack is weak, which will be a player when it is subjected to a load, but the last storm fell far short of achieving that. Low angle sheltered terrain does hold some consistent snow that felt like skiing a foot of new snow, but could not help think that beneath that was dirt. Being in the shadow of Wasatch Front (and Nebo in particular in this area) leaves the plateau a couple of months behind Central Wasatch

Red Flags
Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
frigid temps and shallow pack say it all.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wet Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments

right now hazard is low, sluffing a sure bet on very steep terrain, NW through NE where most snow is remaining, but getting into such terrain would take some work, and you have to ask why anyone would given shallow pack

Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #2 Comments

have to think of the future, and if we finally get some snow, will be fairly active natural cycle, given enough load

Snow Profile
Aspect
Northeast
Elevation
8,900'
Slope Angle
29°
Comments

our discussion today of snowpack

Video

Summit ridgelines just starting to fill in, no activity noted

small sluff on Phone Shot, really did not see any new activity anywhere

Old debris on Wedding Ring Ridge east facing not even covered

Today's Observed Danger Rating
Low
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Low
Coordinates