Quick report
- Aspect
- East
- Red Flags
- Recent Avalanches, Cracking, Collapsing, Poor Snowpack Structure
- Elevation
- 2835 m
- Slope Angle
- 23°
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>The common theme here in Utah is our weak layer. This layer of faceted snow can be found on almost all aspects and elevations. The thing that varies is the amount of snow that sits on top of this weak layer. On shady, low to mid-elevation slopes, the weak layer is fist hard, and the slab thickness is about 12-24" deep. We still experienced collapsing and cracking in these locations, and our pit results showed full propagation in the teens.</p> <p>Across the upper elevations, the slab thickness is roughly 3-5' deep. Here in these locations, the weak layer is increasing in hand hardness to about four fingers, and we were finding stubborn results in our pits. However, we are still aren't ready to trust the steep terrain. </p>
Mt Magog with a small loose dry avalanche. What a day.
We could see evidence of previous fairly widespread natural avalanche activity, but most of it was covered up by this week's more recent powder and drifted snow
View from Naomi Peak looking west into Christmas Tree Bowl, the Mount Naomi Wilderness boundary, and a great view of the east side of Cherry Peak.
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>As the likelihood of triggering an avalanche decrease and as the mountains trend to a Moderate avalanche danger, we must keep in mind that the consequence and avalanche problem HAS NOT changed. Before I trust the steep terrain I would like to see the following:</p> <p> </p> <p>1. Hand hardness of the weak layer trent more to one finger.</p> <p>2. A loading event where avalanches do not fail down to this layer.</p> <p>3. It gets buried so deep it's hard to dig down to that layer or find it.</p> <p> </p> <p>The good news: we are off to an amazing start here in Utah and this weak layer will heal with time and more snow. Once it heals we can have very stable avalanche conditions. I look forward to getting into the steep terrain at that point. </p>
Low sun angle and cold temperatures have preserved the snow surface on almost all aspects. Travel was easy.