Manto nevoso

Observation: Cottonwood Canyons

Greg GagneSalt Lake
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Quick report

Few quick fitness laps along upper reaches of BCC and LCC. Dry new snow was reactive to ski cuts on steep slopes as it would sluff easily, running on the old, crusted snow surface. I had left by late morning, but am expecting there was also some minor wet loose activity as well as the day warmed.

I did not find any pockets of fresh wind drifts.

Photo of

Sluffing on steep slopes

Natural sluffing in Wolvernie Cirque

Snowpack

~10 cms of very-low density snow on top of frozen crusts. Despite the cool temps (Collins station at 9,600' at Alta was in the low teens while I was out) the strong sun quickly went to work on the low-density snow, and it is likely all but due north will be crusted.