Observation: Meadows 1/27/2012

Observer Name:

Primomo, Kendall

Region:

Salt Lake
Big Cottonwood Canyon
Silver Fork
Meadows

Observation Date:

01/27/2012

Location or Route:

Silver Fork Meadows

Snow Characteristics

New Snow Depth:

New Snow Density:

Low

Snow Surface Conditions:

Powder

Snow Characteristic Comments:

S'ly aspects became moist on the surface before noon.

Red Flags

Recent Avalanches

Wind Loading

Cracking

Collapsing

Red Flag Comments:

We had one large collapse, a deep, deep rumble on the NE facing side of the divider ridge of Greens Basin and Days Fork at 9,200ft.

Primary Concern

Primary Concern:

Deep Slabs

Probability:

Considerable

Aspect:

North

Northeast

East

Northwest

Elevation:

High

Mid

Trend:

Same

Primary Concern Comments:

Will become less likely to trigger, but still just as dangerous.

snow_profile_location:

Comments - Photos - Videos (group 1)

Dug a pit at 9,600ft. on an E facing slope below the ridge in the Silver Fork Meadows. Slope angle 27 degrees. HS= 130cm.

Tilt Tests were failing with moderate force and Resistant Planar shears at the old/new interface.

Extended Column Test Propagation 30, 80cm down below the thin dusty windslab on 4 Finger hard facets size 2mm.

Deep Tap Test x2 moderate (11,12) with a Sudden Collapse, 90cm down on Fist hard depth hoar size 3mm.

The top down Compression Test and Extended Column Test are near their limit with an 80cm thick slab. It took some very hard wailing on the Extended Column, but it propagated with a Sudden Collapse. Pit test results compliment what happened out there today with explosive and cornice drop testing.

Observed Danger Rating:

Considerable

Forecast Danger Rating:

Considerable