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Observation: Park City Ridgeline

Observation Date
4/5/2025
Observer Name
Kelly, Park City Snow Safety
Region
Salt Lake » Park City Ridgeline
Location Name or Route
Park City Ridgeline Traverse
Weather
Sky
Clear
Wind Direction
East
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Calm to light winds from the east at the ridgelines and calm winds below that. Skies were primarily clear with high clouds in the distance. Air temperatures were just below freezing °F at nearby weather stations near the 9,900' ridgelines and in the mid 40's °F near 6,000'.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
10"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Wind Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
10" settled snow depth on north facing aspects at 9,990' in elevation. South and east aspects took some heat out of the wind zone. There was a layer of surface hoar on the surface with a thin melt-freeze crust in the melt stage in the morning. This broke down and became more damp by the afternoon on all aspects but due north.
Photo of quick hand pit at 9,990'
Photo of damp crust with surface hoar at 10,100'
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Problem #1 Comments
There was a thin 1"-2" deep wind board on south and west facing slopes from the light east winds (photo 1) and large cornice build up in the Monitors (photo 2).
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wet Snow
Problem #2 Comments
I noticed some rider triggered wet loose avalanches on an east facing slope at 9,600' (Conehead) that looked like it ran above a dirt layer. This was out of the wind zone.
Where we traveled we found an overall LOW danger on north facing aspects and the danger slowly rose to MODERATE out of the wind zone on the sunny slopes. The due north facing slopes near 10,000' were soft powder conditions and below that it was damper and I would imagine that lower and mid elevations have a crust on the surface tomorrow. It was interesting to see intact surface hoar with a damp crust that sure felt like it could have some sort of near surface faceting on shaded slopes, but this most likely won't last long. It is just a unique thing to see in early April.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Low
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
None
Coordinates