January 12
Alta guard station-Eyebrow-Cardiac pass-Mill B south-S curve
Elevations, slope angles and aspects
6200-10600', angles over 35°, all aspects.
Snow conditions
Upper elevations were crusted on all aspects, the result of wind and cooling.
Mid elevations retain some soft damp powder in sheltered areas, much of it capped with a thin mf crust.
Lower elevations were damp, same as above, capped with a crust.
Weather
Overcast skies, mild temperatures.
spindrift
Winds from the west, gusting over 30 mph.
Avalanche activity
Several slides were observed on west facing slopes in Mill B south.
These were likely the result of sun warming and the weak shallow wind drifted snow described in the
No other instabilities were observed.
Evaluation
Snow was stable in the area. Instabilities would be limited to recent shallow wind drifting.
A determined person could probably find an isolated area with deeper potential instability into older snow layering.
© wowasatch.com