January 29
Park City ridges
Elevations, slope angles and aspects:
7500-10000', angles over 35°, all aspects
Avalanche activity:
Natural activity was observed in the Monitors, Butler Basin and Days Fork. Strong winds from the west, adding to cornice lines eventually led to failure.
Slides were recent snow sluffs, the result of cornice falls, except
one fracture observed on northern edge of Banana belt, well below the ridge line.Cornice kicking in West Monitor and McDonalds released several large cornices, without avalanche.
Slopes skied:
West Monitor northeast facing, McDonalds north facing and Beartrap northwest facing.
Snow conditions:
Settled snow amount was around 8". Dense snow slightly denser near the surface from wind effect Ski penetration was only a coupla inches.Winds had loaded easterly facing aspects with large cornices near the ridges and patches of wind board lower on slopes. West facing aspects were scoured , with conditions ranging from dirt to windboad and satsrugi.
Weather:
Bluebird early in the day. Increased clouds and wind from the west in the afternoon, with light snow.
Evaluation:
Mostly stable snow. Cornice falls during the storm were the predominate natural activity. Bombing along the PC ridge line by the Canyons ski patrol produced some shallow fractures, several inches deep, which did not propagate, from my views. The next round of heavy snow and wind currently forecast will likely induce further natural activity, the extent dependent on snow amounts.
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