Observation Date
1/6/2020
Observer Name
Chester
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Days Fork
Location Name or Route
Big cottonwood canyon Days fork
Comments
Besides going up Flagstaff Skinner was on north side of compass below 10,200 for tour.
Light density new snow. 4-6"
Wind drifted snow-no cracking or movement. I noticed mostly crossloaded where skiied. Pockety/small winddrifts, although bit harder to tell with the fresh snow.
I didn't play w south side wind drifted and didn't get much above 10,000.
Minor thin sluffing in steeps (took steeper than 38ish)
Note on sun crust pwl from I suspect Mon a week ago- I was touring last Tues in gobblers basin and noticed the sun crust with very light density snow below and above.
Forcaster Champion mentioned sun crust in her 12/31/19 obs as what she was most concerned about.
I have been real interested in crust for a while. I usually am overly suspicious of m/f crust, probably because we get more of em towards spring, its typically warmer in springs the snow don't have a big temp gradient, and nothing happenes.
But it's not spring now- it's January- night time temps have been in the teens all week.
Semi Similar setup to gobblers/white snake fatality from a few years back also in January (1/21/16). On that one the weak layer around the m/f crust continued to weaken creating slides ajacent days later w no additional loading.
It felt warmer today. Beautiful day. Some wind in am. Trailheadthawing a bit in sun on exit.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate