Obs-Snow Profile: Days Fork 12/17/2011

Observer Name:

Paradis / Brackelsberg

Observation Date:

12/17/2011

Region:

Salt Lake
Big Cottonwood Canyon
Days Fork

Location or Route:

Spruces to Days Fork

Weather

Sky:

Clear

Wind Speed:

Calm

Weather Comments:

Fairly warm at higher elevations but it felt a little chilly in the shade.

Snow Characteristics

New Snow Depth:

New Snow Density:

Low

Snow Surface Conditions:

Faceted Loose

Snow Characteristic Comments:

Not surprising but much of the thin snow pack was composed of loose facets. These provided fairly good turning conditions though still plenty of thin spots. As mentioned in other reports, the loose faceted snow sluffed easily and did entrain enough snow to potentially knock one down..

Red Flags

Red Flag Comments:

None at this time.

Primary Concern

Probability:

Low

Aspect:

North

Northeast

Elevation:

High

Trend:

Same

Primary Concern Comments:

Currently the main concern is still rocks and stumps. The overall structure of the snow is weak and will become a problematic when we do get snow.

The pit below is not representative of most of the snow we found. We stopped to take a look because this area was deeper than most, had more dense structure & we wanted to see what was supporting it. Several feet away the snow was more typical - about 2-3 feet deep of loose facets. Investigations on more northwest slopes also had loose snow and a couple weak crusts.

Secondary Concern

Secondary Concern:

Loose Snow/Sluffing

Probability:

High

Aspect:

North

Northeast

Northwest

Elevation:

High

Trend:

Same

Secondary Concern Comments:

Sluffs were easy to start with ski cutting steeper areas and could entrain a good bit of snow.

Elevation:

9400'

Aspect:

Northeast

Slope Angle:

snow_profile_location:

United States

40° 36' 29.2356" N, 111° 38' 22.8336" W

Observed Danger Rating:

Low

Forecast Danger Rating:

Low

Snow Profile Location

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