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Observation Date
1/5/2018
Observer Name
Trenbeath
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Twin Lakes area
Location Name or Route
Grizzly Gulch, Twin Lakes Pass, Figure Eight Hill
Weather
Sky
Few
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Another unseasonably warm, spring like day in the mountains. Clear until around 2:00 p.m. when clouds began to move in.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Dense Loose
Faceted Loose
Wind Crust
Melt-Freeze Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments

Mixed bag conditions with surface becoming increasingly loose on NW-N-E aspects. Damp and bordering on sloppy on S-SW slopes later in the day.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Surface becoming increasingly loose and faceted on NW, N, E aspects though not to the degree of other reports. Snowpack around the Twin Lakes Pass area is likely some of the deepest snow in the range and I dug to the ground at 140 cm on a NE aspect at 9960'. A cohesive 4F to 1F slab still exists here in contrast to lower elevations where the slab is disintegrating and facets are begining to take over the entire pack. A non reactive layer of facets still exists beneath the Christmas storm, and depth hoar is in abundance. Test results: CT 18 on basal facets, ECTX.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Low
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Low