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Observation: Ephraim Canyon

Observation Date
12/18/2015
Observer Name
Kobernik - Staples
Region
Skyline » Ephraim Canyon
Location Name or Route
Ephraim Canyon to Horseshoe Mtn and back
Weather
Sky
Clear
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Only really noticed the wind along the highest most exposed terrain.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Dense Loose
Wind Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments

Still mostly low density unconsolidated powder. As usual, there is some stiffer snow from the wind along the highest ridges. The area around Ephraim Canyon has between 3 and 4 feet of total snow depth above 8500'. The new snow has finally consolidated enough so travel is becoming easier.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Collapsing
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
We felt the tracks sink a number of times especially in the more shallow locations where the weak early season snow near the ground is collapsing under the weight of our machines.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments

An avalanche breaking into weak snow near the ground remains the number one concern. We did find a few locations where that old snow didn't look too bad and may be starting to strengthen under the weight of the new snow. These areas are in locations that have the deepest overall snowpack. Unfortunately, we feel that there are way more areas that are holding weak snow rather than strong snow near the ground.

Snow Profile
Aspect
Northeast
Elevation
10,100'
Comments

In a number of snowpit tests today we got no significant failures or propagation. However, at the above location (snowpit diagram) the column failed upon isolation which means it failed while we were just cutting it. In other words, the column of snow would not stand on it's own because the weak snow near the ground collapsed.

We checked out a significant avalanche in Horseshoe Bowl today (photo below) which released sometime early Thursday morning. The weak faceted snow from November was what it failed on.

We also came across numerous smaller slides on slopes like the one below. All these demonstrate that the old weak snow from November is certainly active right now.

It is very likely that a person would trigger a sizable avalanche on the upper elevation north through east facing slopes that are 35 degrees and steeper right now. These avalanches are large enough to be dangerous. They scare me enough to continue to call the avalanche danger CONSIDERABLE for the higher terrain.

Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable