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Observation: Main Days

Observation Date
12/9/2014
Observer Name
Grainger
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Days Fork » Main Days
Location Name or Route
Main Days
Weather
Sky
Scattered
Weather Comments
Quite warm and calm, the southern half of the compass had significant solar affect by mid-day.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Faceted Loose
Melt-Freeze Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
Big differences in shaded N slopes and exposed S ones in both the superficial snow and the snowpack depth. NW-NE aspects have maintained deeper snow and a bit more of that mid-pack slab. NSF and surface hoar on top with depth hoar preserved at the ground. The sunnier S aspects are thinner, moist throughout, and all pretty homogeneous grains.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
With the green-light UAC compass today, went looking for lingering structure issues on north faces. At ~10,000 ft. on the leeward NE-facing Main Days headwall I was surprised to find a 94 cm snowpack with a stout 2-3cm crust just under the surface hoar and NSFs. Also interesting was the sudden planar (ECTP21 Q1) test result at the ground on the depth hoar interface. With the bridging that has happened in the last weeks, I'm curious to see what pockets might trigger on this basal hoar when we finally get a new load. The NSF and surface hoar should also keep things active next storm active with new snow slides. Despite the crust and poor structure, I was glad to find some awesome facet turns on different E-NE slopes. Had to remember to ski light but snow was great on the right aspect.
Snow Profile
Aspect
Northeast
Elevation
10,000'
Slope Angle
33°
ECT shear at the ground.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Low
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Low
Coordinates