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Observation: 10420

Observation Date
12/21/2024
Observer Name
Gagne/Duvernay
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » 10420
Location Name or Route
10,420' in Upper Big Cottonwood Canyon
Weather
Sky
Scattered
Wind Direction
South
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Sustained moderate winds out of the south.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Faceted Loose
Wind Crust
Melt-Freeze Crust
Damp
Red Flags
Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
With wind and some snow in the forecast, this problem will trend the same, possibly increasing in likelihood around Tuesday depending on storm snow and/or wind.
Comments
The PWL problem seems to be focused on slopes that have been wind-loaded where you have a stronger slab on top of the weaker facets below. The photo and video below show full propagation of an ECT on a west aspect at 10,000' in upper Big Cottonwood. This slope had a hard, 1F slab on top of weaker facets. I repeated the test with scores of ECTP11, ECTP17, and ECTP19. This tells me it is possible to trigger an avalanche on slopes that have this structure of strong-over-weak.
Video
South-facing slopes in Big Cottonwood have mostly melted out. Once we do get enough snow (and we will!), the south-facing slopes will be safer alternatives as they have no weak snow.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
Coordinates