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Observation: Silver Fork

Observation Date
2/22/2019
Observer Name
Bombard, Hardesty
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Silver Fork
Location Name or Route
Silver Fork
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Cornice
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
The cornices out there are HUGE! Those overhanging the Silver Fork headwall are thick and stout, some of them the size of a #vanlife rig. The remnants of one of these fallen monsters -- likely collapsed four or five days ago -- littered a portion of West Bowl, skier's right. The aftermath of a cornice collapse off the headwall and a subsequently triggered wind slab (as noted by S. Murray on 2/16) was also apparent.
Given current conditions, it'd probably take a serious load to drop one of these big boys. It's not unimaginable that a snowmobiler could launch off of and break loose a big cornice, and then she and the boxcar-sized slab trigger an underlying wind slab that steps down and sets off a sizable avalanche.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
SE winds yesterday and last night were ideal for creating small pockets of wind drifts in unusual terrain on N-NW. There's also the potential for some odd cross-loading. Ski cuts have proven effective in recent days for shallow wind slabs that have broken wide and run long (see Malone, Morgan, Catino, Mccurdy's ob from 2/21).
Comments
Overcast skies with some breaks in the clouds in the late afternoon.
Light snow falling consistently above about 9500'. Two inches new snow.
Winds light out of the N-NW in West Bowl.
No new avalanches. No red flags.
Avalanche problem #3: Sluffs. They're small and should be manageable, but it'd be worth keeping up your guard, especially in steep, consequential terrain.
The skintrack up to Emma's Ridge was slick with new stellars and some thin hoarfrost formation. Cloud/snow-line at about 9500'. Cornices atop the Silver Fork headwall are massive, but didn't pose too great a risk given present conditions. Snow on N facing was deep, dry, and sublime! Riding was surfier in the denser cream snow on S down Emma 2 back to the truck. Thankfully S slopes were protected by plenty of cloud cover and didn't succumb to a melt-freeze crust cycle. They also survived the SE winds yesterday and didn't get wind scoured.
Riding tomorrow should be epic all the way around the compass rose.
Given the strange wind-loading from yesterday, moderate's probably the safe call.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
Coordinates