Quick report
- Aspect
- North
- Red Flags
- Recent Avalanches, Heavy Snowfall, Collapsing, Poor Snowpack Structure
- Elevation
- 2621 m
Pit taken as part of AAI Pro I exam; Snowpack representative of similar N-facing terrain at this elevation around Alta. Locations shows poor structure over the facet-crust-facet laye that preceded the 2021128 and 20211218 storms. Seems like a classic considerable setup with possibility of danger increasing to high with incoming winds and snow testing the PWL.
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>The early December facets are roughly 100-110cm under the 20211208 and 20211214 storms in upper Little Cottonwood Canyon near Alta. These facets are well-developed, relatively large, and overlay (and underlay) a partly decomposing crust. The above crust facet layer was reactive in multiple pit tests. More importantly, several avalanches were observed on this layer around Big Cottonwood/Park City Ridgeline yesterday (20211215) at shallower snowpack locations. This persistent weak layer is widespread around the central Wasatch based on my travel this week before and after the Tuesday night storm. When life throws PWLs this widespread and reactive at me, I manage my party's terrain like my life depends on it, staying vigilant and entrenched until evidence proves otherwise.</p> <p>Plenty of low-densty snow available for transport as next system moves through with higher winds this afternoon. Boot pen was nearly bottomless at the observation location BTL.</p>