Observation: Catherine's Pass
11-16-2024 | Salt Lake
AI Summary:
Raw Data:
{
"observationContent": {
"contentAsHtml": "\n \n<!-- See https://api.drupal.org/api/drupal/modules%21field%21theme%21field.tpl.php/7.x -->\n <div class=\"field-label text_02 bold mb0\">Observation Date</div>\n <div class=\"text_02 mb2\"><span class=\"date-display-single\">11/16/2024</span></div>\n <!-- See https://api.drupal.org/api/drupal/modules%21field%21theme%21field.tpl.php/7.x -->\n <div class=\"field-label text_02 bold mb0\">Observer Name</div>\n <div class=\"text_02 mb2\">Gagne</div>\n <!-- field-region-forecaster -->\n <div class=\"field-label text_02 bold mb0\">Region</div>\n <div class=\"text_02 mb2\">Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » Catherine's Pass</div>\n <!-- See https://api.drupal.org/api/drupal/modules%21field%21theme%21field.tpl.php/7.x -->\n <div class=\"field-label text_02 bold mb0\">Location Name or Route</div>\n <div class=\"text_02 mb2\">Catherine's Pass Area</div>\n <fieldset class=\" group-weather field-group-fieldset form-wrapper\"><legend><span class=\"fieldset-legend\">Weather</span></legend><div class=\"fieldset-wrapper\"><!-- See https://api.drupal.org/api/drupal/modules%21field%21theme%21field.tpl.php/7.x -->\n <div class=\"field-label text_02 bold mb0\">Sky</div>\n <div class=\"text_02 mb2\">Overcast</div>\n <!-- See https://api.drupal.org/api/drupal/modules%21field%21theme%21field.tpl.php/7.x -->\n <div class=\"field-label text_02 bold mb0\">Precipitation</div>\n <div class=\"text_02 mb2\">Light Snowfall</div>\n <!-- See https://api.drupal.org/api/drupal/modules%21field%21theme%21field.tpl.php/7.x -->\n <div class=\"field-label text_02 bold mb0\">Wind Direction</div>\n <div class=\"text_02 mb2\">Northwest</div>\n <!-- See https://api.drupal.org/api/drupal/modules%21field%21theme%21field.tpl.php/7.x -->\n <div class=\"field-label text_02 bold mb0\">Wind Speed</div>\n <div class=\"text_02 mb2\">Calm</div>\n <!-- See https://api.drupal.org/api/drupal/modules%21field%21theme%21field.tpl.php/7.x -->\n <div class=\"field-label text_02 bold mb0\">Weather Comments</div>\n <div class=\"text_02 mb2\">Light snow flurries in the morning with a few peaks of sun that dampened south-facing slopes. Windless.</div>\n </div></fieldset>\n<fieldset class=\" group-snow-characteristics field-group-fieldset form-wrapper\"><legend><span class=\"fieldset-legend\">Snow Characteristics</span></legend><div class=\"fieldset-wrapper\"><!-- See https://api.drupal.org/api/drupal/modules%21field%21theme%21field.tpl.php/7.x -->\n <div class=\"field-label text_02 bold mb0\">New Snow Depth</div>\n <div class=\"text_02 mb2\">6\"</div>\n <!-- See https://api.drupal.org/api/drupal/modules%21field%21theme%21field.tpl.php/7.x -->\n <div class=\"field-label text_02 bold mb0\">New Snow Density</div>\n <div class=\"text_02 mb2\">Medium</div>\n <!-- See https://api.drupal.org/api/drupal/modules%21field%21theme%21field.tpl.php/7.x -->\n <div class=\"field-label text_02 bold mb0\">Snow Surface Conditions</div>\n <div class=\"text_02 mb2\">Powder</div>\n <!-- See https://api.drupal.org/api/drupal/modules%21field%21theme%21field.tpl.php/7.x -->\n <div class=\"field-label text_02 bold mb0\">Snow Characteristics Comments</div>\n <div class=\"text_02 mb2\"><div>15 cms of new snow since Friday. I saw no evidence of wind-loading up to 10,500', although I suspect with stronger winds Friday night into early Saturday morning, there are a few wind drifts at the uppermost elevations.</div>\n\n<div> </div>\n\n<div>HS (height of snow) above 9,000' is generally 15-75 cms. One pit on a wind-loaded slope near Sunset Peak measured 85 cms. </div></div>\n </div></fieldset>\n<fieldset class=\" group-red-flags field-group-fieldset form-wrapper\"><legend><span class=\"fieldset-legend\">Red Flags</span></legend><div class=\"fieldset-wrapper\"><!-- See https://api.drupal.org/api/drupal/modules%21field%21theme%21field.tpl.php/7.x -->\n <div class=\"field-label text_02 bold mb0\">Red Flags</div>\n <div class=\"text_02 mb2\">Poor Snowpack Structure</div>\n <!-- See https://api.drupal.org/api/drupal/modules%21field%21theme%21field.tpl.php/7.x -->\n <div class=\"field-label text_02 bold mb0\">Red Flags Comments</div>\n <div class=\"text_02 mb2\">Widespread faceted snow in the bottom 30 cms of snow on northerly aspects above 9,000'. Not an issue for now, but once we get enough of a load on top (additional snow and/or wind-loading), this weak layer may become reactive.</div>\n </div></fieldset>\n<fieldset class=\" group-snow-profile field-group-fieldset form-wrapper\"><legend><span class=\"fieldset-legend\">Snow Profile</span></legend><div class=\"fieldset-wrapper\"><!-- See https://api.drupal.org/api/drupal/modules%21field%21theme%21field.tpl.php/7.x -->\n <div class=\"field-label text_02 bold mb0\">Elevation</div>\n <div class=\"text_02 mb2\">10,400'</div>\n </div></fieldset>\n<!-- See https://api.drupal.org/api/drupal/modules%21field%21theme%21field.tpl.php/7.x -->\n <div class=\"field-label text_02 bold mb0\">Comments</div>\n <div class=\"text_02 mb2\"><div>Lots of snow pits looking at the weak structure we have on northerly facing slopes. </div>\n\n<div> </div>\n\n<div>Pit #1 9,500' NW aspect - This slope had a wind slab above facets (and is now buried underneath the snow from overnight) and I got an ECTPV (full propagation upon isolation). I think this is an outlier as I have not seen many wind-loaded slopes, but the results made it clear that once we get more of a load and a stronger slab on top, we will likely have issues with the basal facets down near the ground.</div>\n\n<div> </div>\n\n<div>Pit #2 10,300' N aspect - The bottom 20-30 cms was faceted, with the crust down near the ground deteriorating due to the faceting process.</div>\n\n<div> </div>\n\n<div>Pit #3 10,500' N aspect - This pit was the deepest I've seen this season - 85 cms! The depth was due to some recent wind-loading with a 4F slab on top of the facets buried down near the rocks at the ground. ECTP21 failing in the facets, but another test was ECTN23 Q2. I suspect this is due to the lack of uniformity of the buried weak layer. </div>\n\n<div>\n<hr>\n<div><strong>What does all this mean</strong>? We have a widespread weak layer on above about 9,000' in LCC on slopes facing at least northwest through northeast. (I have not looked at enough slopes facing west and east.) We currently don't have enough of a load on top to make the basal facets reactive, but we may find it reactive once we put enough of a load (through new snowfall and/or wind-loading).</div>\n\n<div> </div>\n\n<div>For now, the biggest hazard is buried rocks, stumps, and downed timber.</div>\n</div></div>\n <!-- See https://api.drupal.org/api/drupal/modules%21field%21theme%21field.tpl.php/7.x -->\n <div class=\"text_02 mb2\"><img src=\"https://utahavalanchecenter.org/sites/default/files/styles/observation_image/public/images/observations/2024-25/pit-1.jpg?itok=p7PsnmXw\" alt=\"\"></div>\n <div class=\"text_02 mb2\"><img src=\"https://utahavalanchecenter.org/sites/default/files/styles/observation_image/public/images/observations/2024-25/pit-2.jpg?itok=9r5RvZ6i\" alt=\"\"></div>\n <div class=\"text_02 mb2\"><img src=\"https://utahavalanchecenter.org/sites/default/files/styles/observation_image/public/images/observations/2024-25/pit-3.jpg?itok=vHHAPWSQ\" alt=\"\"></div>\n <!-- See https://api.drupal.org/api/drupal/modules%21field%21theme%21field.tpl.php/7.x -->\n <div class=\"field-label text_02 bold mb0\">Today's Observed Danger Rating</div>\n <div class=\"text_02 mb2\">None</div>\n <!-- See https://api.drupal.org/api/drupal/modules%21field%21theme%21field.tpl.php/7.x -->\n <div class=\"field-label text_02 bold mb0\">Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating</div>\n <div class=\"text_02 mb2\">None</div>\n <!-- See https://api.drupal.org/api/drupal/modules%21field%21theme%21field.tpl.php/7.x -->\n <div class=\"field-label text_02 bold mb0\">Coordinates</div>\n <div class=\"text_02 mb2\"><div style=\"width:auto;height:400px;\" id=\"openlayers-container-openlayers-map\" class=\"contextual-links-region openlayers-container openlayers-container-map-geofield-formatter-map\">\n <div style=\"width:auto;height:400px;\" id=\"openlayers-map\" class=\"openlayers-map openlayers-map-geofield-formatter-map\"></div>\n</div>\n</div>\n \n <!-- Ad underneath the left navigation desktop, this mobile web markup duplicates this where it should go -->\n ",
"contentAsText": "Observation Date\n11/16/2024\nObserver Name\nGagne\nRegion\nSalt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » Catherine's Pass\nLocation Name or Route\nCatherine's Pass Area\nWeather\nSky\nOvercast\nPrecipitation\nLight Snowfall\nWind Direction\nNorthwest\nWind Speed\nCalm\nWeather Comments\nLight snow flurries in the morning with a few peaks of sun that dampened south-facing slopes. Windless.\nSnow Characteristics\nNew Snow Depth\n6\"\nNew Snow Density\nMedium\nSnow Surface Conditions\nPowder\nSnow Characteristics Comments\n15 cms of new snow since Friday. I saw no evidence of wind-loading up to 10,500', although I suspect with stronger winds Friday night into early Saturday morning, there are a few wind drifts at the uppermost elevations.\nHS (height of snow) above 9,000' is generally 15-75 cms. One pit on a wind-loaded slope near Sunset Peak measured 85 cms.\nRed Flags\nRed Flags\nPoor Snowpack Structure\nRed Flags Comments\nWidespread faceted snow in the bottom 30 cms of snow on northerly aspects above 9,000'. Not an issue for now, but once we get enough of a load on top (additional snow and/or wind-loading), this weak layer may become reactive.\nSnow Profile\nElevation\n10,400'\nComments\nLots of snow pits looking at the weak structure we have on northerly facing slopes.\nPit #1 9,500' NW aspect - This slope had a wind slab above facets (and is now buried underneath the snow from overnight) and I got an ECTPV (full propagation upon isolation). I think this is an outlier as I have not seen many wind-loaded slopes, but the results made it clear that once we get more of a load and a stronger slab on top, we will likely have issues with the basal facets down near the ground.\nPit #2 10,300' N aspect - The bottom 20-30 cms was faceted, with the crust down near the ground deteriorating due to the faceting process.\nPit #3 10,500' N aspect - This pit was the deepest I've seen this season - 85 cms! The depth was due to some recent wind-loading with a 4F slab on top of the facets buried down near the rocks at the ground. ECTP21 failing in the facets, but another test was ECTN23 Q2. I suspect this is due to the lack of uniformity of the buried weak layer.\nWhat does all this mean? We have a widespread weak layer on above about 9,000' in LCC on slopes facing at least northwest through northeast. (I have not looked at enough slopes facing west and east.) We currently don't have enough of a load on top to make the basal facets reactive, but we may find it reactive once we put enough of a load (through new snowfall and/or wind-loading).\nFor now, the biggest hazard is buried rocks, stumps, and downed timber.\nToday's Observed Danger Rating\nNone\nTomorrows Estimated Danger Rating\nNone\nCoordinates",
"title": "Observation: Catherine's Pass"
},
"observer": "Gagne",
"region": "Salt Lake"
}