Observation Date
2/1/2016
Observer Name
Fred
Region
Salt Lake » Mill Creek Canyon » Porter Fork
Location Name or Route
Porter Fork to Raymond rocks
Weather
Sky
Obscured
Precipitation
Moderate Snowfall
Wind Direction
North
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Snowy obscured cold day. Moderate pi rates at times with moderate wind at highter elevation. Quite cold up high in the wind. I guess the wind is the story of the day.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
7"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Wind Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
Snow was somewhat slabby and wind effected at higher elevations. Lower down the pre cold front rain crust could be felt under the light snow.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Wind Loading
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Lack of wide spread cracking and colapsing was noted. Up near the top of the bowl there was some fresh debre but really hard to tell when it came down due to poor vis.
Intregured buy the reported deep snow pack in this area so I did a pit. Probing reveald total snow pack well over 200cm up high. Lower down just over 140cm.
I got a somewhat clean shear approx 35-40cm down with 4 taps from the elbow. Thinking hor frost from the pre storm cold dry spell. There was also a density inversion in the top 15cm but overall snow pack in the pit was rather well behaved.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
the deep snow in this area seems like this is not likely but cant ignore what has gone on this winter.
low probability
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
wind had been blowing. some drifts were stout and some areas blown almost clean of new snow. these I would think to be sensitive but manageable.
gotta call this considerable
Snow Profile
Aspect
North
Elevation
9,400'
Slope Angle
33°
Comments
Chose this area to get out of the wind and there was not a lot of wind while we were there. However the wind had been blowing even at lower elevation. Some sluffs were noticed on steep terrain involving only new snow.
The rain crust was very elevation dependent as one would expect.
Shame that the snow was so wind effected. However it seemed to be staying in place. Not a lot of water weight.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
