Observation: Mill D North

Observation Date
3/26/2020
Observer Name
Champion
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Mill D North
Location Name or Route
Mill D North
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Calm
Weather Comments
Overcast morning, light snowfall and light wind when we were traveling. No signs of transport occurring.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
15"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments
12"-18" inches of new snow sitting atop the old firm crust below. Was out during the early morning hours with cooler temperatures and no real solar effect yet.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Heavy Snowfall
Wind Loading
Comments
The main issue that I observed today was the new storm snow. It was earlier in the morning and still had cool temperatures. We traveled primarily in low angle terrain and could get some slow-moving sluffs to occur on small terrain features but large steep terrain, I could imagine there would be some fast running sluffs in the morning. Enjoyable riding conditions could still feel the firm surface below the new snow. The skin track was slick.
Near ridgelines and upper elevation terrain the increased winds had a few signs of areas of wind drifted snow. The light precipitation and overnight new snow made the normally "obvious wind drifts", a bit harder to see - but are primarily isolated to specific upper elevation wind drifted terrain features. During our tour we did not see any obvious signs of active wind loading occurring, and winds stayed pretty calm the entire time we were out.
To echo what a lot of people have said, the new snow seems to be bonding decently well with the old firm surface, and I would expect the new snow to stabilize quickly. Winds should be calm overnight, but if winds pick up tomorrow afternoon I would be more concerned about lingering wind drifts, than new snow instabilities.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
None
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
None