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Observation: Mill D North

Observation Date
12/17/2015
Observer Name
Fred Staff
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Mill D North
Location Name or Route
Mill d north fork
Weather
Sky
Clear
Weather Comments
Cold clear morning
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
8"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments
More soft cold snow on top of Mondays dump. Some wind effect in sheltered terrain
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Heavy Snowfall
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Lots of water sitting on a weak snow pack
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Comments
Dug two pits today. On where it is total shade and one where the sun does shine about 20' apart. Then I did a propagation test. Both pits are positive however where the sun does not shine the crust is even weaker and the column released with say an inch of the facets removed. The sunny column took about 4" of facets to be removed before it ran. The crust is much weaker in the shade. And yes you do notice when you are breaking trail now.
Danger is very slope specific. High, steep, north facing is just not where you wana be.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable