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Observation: Porter Fork

Observation Date
12/12/2013
Observer Name
Bruce Tremper and Cody Hughes
Region
Salt Lake » Mill Creek Canyon » Porter Fork
Location Name or Route
Porter Fork in Mill Creek Canyon
Weather
Sky
Clear
Wind Speed
Light
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Dense Loose
Faceted Loose
Snow Characteristics Comments

Mill Creek Canyon was a pleasant surprise. It seems like there is more snow than in the Cottonwood Canyons and more rocks and stumps are covered up. It's especially surprising because we only went up to 8,800' in elevation and there is still far more snow than similar elevations in the Cottonwood Canyons. Total snow depths for us in 5 different snowpits ranged from 110 cm to 130, which is 40-50 inches compared to 35 inches at Alta and 37 at Brighton. Surface snow was soft, recrystallized snow with lots of surface hoar on top.

Red Flags
Red Flags Comments
Much fewer red flags in Mill Creek than the Cottonwood Canyons. I'm not sure I would list any except occasionally poor snow structure.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Problem #1 Comments

Yes, the same faceted layer exists about 50 cm below the surface as we are finding in the Cottonwood Canyons but it is much better behaved. In 5 different snow profiles from 8,200' to 8,800' northwest through northeast facing, we found it difficult to collapse that layer with our stability tests. Our Extended Column Tests ranged from the low end at ECTP-15 but most were either not propagating or you had to hit it with pretty strong blows from the shoulder (ECTP-25 to ECTN). At least that's what we found in main Porter Fork beneath the Icebox. I ran into Greg Gagne and he was finding similar conditions at the pass on the main trail to the Raymond saddle.

I'm not sure why we found a difference between where we were and most places in the Cottonwood Canyons and Park City. Maybe one of these days I'll actually arrive at being an avalanche expert and know such things. In the mean time, there are many mysteries that just make me smile at my ignorance.

Comments

Quick video of me explaining the snowpack and what we found.

Video
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
Coordinates