Snowpack

Observation: Grizzly Gulch

John LemnotisSalt Lake
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Quick report

Red Flags
Recent Avalanches, Heavy Snowfall, Wind Loading, Cracking, Collapsing, Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comment
<p>Most red flags are present. The most alarming being the poor snowpack structure. The storm snow sits on top of a well established persistant weak layer that formed on the old snow surface during the weeks without any new snow. Additionally collapsing was felt on every aspect we touched today, SW-W-NE. The snow pit we dug and have attached a link to below was on a WSW slope around 10k' failing below a facet/crust/facet combo. The failure plane was 1mm facets up 43cm from the ground as an ECTP 3 SP. Take a look at the avalanche encyclopedia for more info on terminology </p> <p>https://avalanche.org/avalanche-encyclopedia/#avalanche</p>

Snowpack

Only commenting on the overnight snow. The most recent 10" was heavy and the overall storm snow is now upside down (more dense snow on top with lighter snow below). Breaking trail outside of established skinned tracks was arduous most of the time except where you were traveling on wind scoured terrain.