Quick report
- Aspect
- North
- Red Flags
- Recent Avalanches, Heavy Snowfall, Wind Loading
- Elevation
- 2713 m
- Slope Angle
- 25°
In our snow profile, we found a pretty good snow depth of 120cm. In summary, the pack was pretty right-side up except the very base. However, this seemed to be very wet and should harden with some cooler temps. We noted a lot of graupel of the recent snow, especially from when the storm moved at 60-70cm depth and around 90cm. Many of the snowpack is either precip particles or decomposing particles moving to rounds.
The rating of this pit is 9.
Many layers of graupel throughout, the most prominent being at 60-70cm.
Mid Big Cottonwood Canyon Snowpit - ECTX
We found good riding conditions where we skied. We noted that south facing and west facing slopes where pretty wind scoured and the pack remains pretty shallow. With a fairly high rain line, low elevation likely has less of a pack as well.
We noted some cornices forming on ridge lines.
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>With a couple of feet of new snow available for transport, and sustained moderate winds overnight. It would not be a surprise to find reactive wind-drifted snow at upper elevations, especially on N-E-facing slopes. </p> <p><em>Scoured slopes</em> </p> <p>There is a lot of new snow in the hills, while I think that it should settle out rather quickly. It still may be possible to find some sensitive areas of new snow, in the areas protected from the wind. Especially in terrain features that could allow for some graupel pooling, such as below cliff bands. </p>
New snow was quality powder, a touch on the heavy side with wetter snow a couple of feet down. It seemed to fall overall right side up, temperatures dropped throughout the storm.