Observation: Wolverine Bowl

Mainly dry faceted snow with the rain crust from prior to the storm on October 28/29th. There was no slab over the weak snow in this area and no signs of current wind loading. There is snow available above 10,000' in the event we get a wind event before the next storm.

Snow on the south-west aspects had dry facets underneath the October 28/29 rain crust ( that is breaking down). Snowpack at this site was thinner (12").

Foot travel on all aspects above 9,000' in elevation. Northerly aspects held cold dry snow that is starting to facet from the top to the bottom.   High elevation easterly and westerly aspects were still dry snow with moist facets near the ground. Southerly aspects were melting quickly and there was free water running down the rocks on south aspects up to 10,000'.  Average snow depth was 8"-16" with deeper drifts up to 30" in some areas along the ridge tops.  On steep north facing terrain (above 10,400') we were able to initiate loose dry facet surface sloughing (less than 1/2" deep).  The snowpack was still quite thin with lots of rocks both visibile and not.

Photo of wind sculpted snow surface northeast facing Wolverine Bowl with south facing Big Cottonwood Canyon in the backdrop 

 

Photo of  faceted snow surface north facing 10,000' elevation

 

Photo of north facing Wolverine Cirque