Observation Date
12/12/2014
Observer Name
Kobernik/Kendall
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Mineral Fork
Location Name or Route
Mongo No - Mineral Fork
Weather
Sky
Scattered
Wind Direction
South
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Nicer weather than anticipated. Only a few periods of annoying winds.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Dense Loose
Faceted Loose
Wind Crust
Melt-Freeze Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
Mineral Fork is a disaster with an overall shallow snowpack (typical) and a huge amount of spacial variability due to a couple of different wind events. Depths range from around 8-10" of completely faceted grains to areas containing knife hard wind slabs up to 20" deep. You don't need to travel far for conditions to completely change. This has a good potential to be very tricky once everything is covered with new snow. Many areas will not be very sensitive and this may lend a false sense of security to backcountry travelers.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Wind Loading
Cracking
Red Flags Comments
Went up to look at the skier triggered slide from the 11th. New wind transport occurring during the day. Noted some cracking in hard wind slabs.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Problem #1 Comments
A "pockety" wind slab issue sitting on top of a persistent weak layer of facets presents the main concern in the wind zone of Mineral.
Video
On a side note, lack of snow, variable and overall poor riding conditions and the ATV rutted out road made this the worst ski experience I've had this winter. I will note it was pleasantly quiet and I found the avalanche to be pretty interesting.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
