Sign Up for the Utah Snow and Avalanche Workshop (USAW) on December 7th!

Observation: Electric Lake

Observation Date
1/25/2017
Observer Name
Steve Cote
Region
Skyline » Huntington Canyon » Electric Lake
Location Name or Route
Lower Electric Lake
Weather
Sky
Broken
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
West
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Light snow fall, on East side, heavy going down Fairview canyon.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
16"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments

Snow was right side up, it was 16 inches and deeper where wind had deposited more snow off of ridges. Wind drifts were soft, skis would drop through. Skiing was great.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Heavy Snowfall
Wind Loading
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
With the amount of new snow, wind affect loading could activate the facets from last week. Found the facets buried at 67 cm. Shovel shear test had a failure at the new / old snow interface at 16 ,Q1 and at the facets layer at a 20/ Q1.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Normal Caution
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments

Normal caution until new snow and time lets the snow pack finds strengthens.

New snow was fist to the old snow and that was four finger to 1 finger below 16 cm, below that was back to 4 finger and again to 1 finger to the facet layer.

Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate