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Observation: Salt Lake

Observation Date
12/26/2020
Observer Name
CBrown
Region
Salt Lake
Location Name or Route
Dry Fork, Catherine Pass
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Weather Comments
Warm morning, noticed the winds mostly in morning/early afternoon. Temps seemed to drop around 14:00, with light to moderate snow squall around 15:00. Few sunbreaks throughout the day felt WARM.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Dense Loose
Faceted Loose
Wind Crust
Melt-Freeze Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
Snow surface has taken a little beating with the warm temps & wind. Still some soft settled powder to be found on northerly protected slopes.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Cracking
Collapsing
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Still getting collapsing and cracking in NW-N-E terrain. Dug 9,800' NE in Dry Fork, HS 75cm, very poor structure. The weakest snow I've seen all year. CTE4 SC down 35cm on FC, ECTP11 on same layer. Below PWL that failed was large FC, Up to 3-4mm, saw DH/striated cups. Seeing clean shear in shovel tilt on the 20201222 (FC on the PPrm/MF) layer. Not deep enough to be a problem now, but something to keep tabs on going forward.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
Poor structure and propagation continue. The slab seems to be gaining strength decreasing likelihood of triggering, but potentially connecting more snow, therefore increasing the consequence. Could be interesting if we get a loading event or someone finds a trigger point while riding.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
Found some stubborn HS wind slab, no reactivity noted on these.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
None
Coordinates