Observation: 10420

Observation Date
4/18/2025
Observer Name
ZSmith
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » 10420
Location Name or Route
10420
Red Flags
Red Flags
Heavy Snowfall
Poor Snowpack Structure
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
New snow and old snow wanted nothing to do with each other. Significant sluffing. Dry loose slides on 35 degree + slopes.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Normal Caution
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
Be aware of starting long running sluffs which, in consequential terrain, could be...well...consequential.
Comments
Toured up on 10420 today. Started around 9:30am in medium/heavy snowfall which dissipated by the end of the tour around 12:30pm. Wind was pretty light but strong enough to move snow around. Skiing was fun and fast but the bullet proof bottom layer was never far away and there were few scrape-free turns. On steeper terrain it was constant bottom feeding. Sluffing was manageable but once the snow got going it tended to entrain all the new snow, leaving the icy bed surface. FYI, the crews are out clearing the road up to the pass so be courteous when they're out and don't expect the road to be an option for exiting. Photos are of 1) Sluffing on a 35ish degree slope, 2) progress on the road, and 3) a nice view of the history of our snowpack from the road cut.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Low
Coordinates