Observation Date
2/21/2019
Observer Name
Chester
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Mineral Fork
Location Name or Route
Mineral Fork
Comments
tour today was lower mineral fork 10-2 max alt 9300. east and north aspects mostly.
winds on ridge were light, sporadically transporting snow. no wind damage or significant recent wind effect observed.
skys were partly sunny switching to cloudy.
cool. surface facets observed. no m/f crusts.
choppers spent a lot of time in mineral fork today, other than than not too many tracks.
snow is still excellent, exp above 8000. light snow on a supportable fast base that makes for easy traveling.
mineral out is deepest/best i have ever seen it.
I dug 1 pit 7800' NE. I documented 2 rain crust that are right next to each other(2 cm), but im not sure about that, suspect it is just 1 rain crust.
I got a ectn6 above the latest rain crust. it is weak but not propitiating-no energy/load, lower around another crust ectn27.
my guess is -the rain crust is not far down, there will be a temp grade that will be concentrated on the rain crust and facets should grow above and below the crust which will weaken this layer. no load yet.
I saw a older avalanche in highline n put it in the avalanche section.
I observed low due to no wind damage, minimal snow transport In area traveled, but I was spooked enough by cornices and hang fire and incomplete sight picture of what was above that I did not feel comfortable poking around too much the old slid i saw in steep rocky terrain.
I suspect moderate is the call in more wind effected terrain.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Low
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
None