Observation Date
1/13/2023
Observer Name
Grainger, Kelly, Pressman
Region
Provo » Box Elder
Location Name or Route
Tibble Fork
Comments
Traveled through Deer Creek/Silver Creek looking for any evidence of this last natural cycle, brought on by the wind/precipitation of the recent atmospheric river (AR). We found widespread storm slab activity at all elevations on NW-->E-->S aspects. Most interesting was that this soft slab activity was punctuated by avalanches in rocky, wind-loaded terrain that stepped down into old snow, likely the Nov. 28 facet layer.
Later in the day winds raked the ridgelines, loaded leeward slopes and added to already large cornices. Solar aspects' snow below ~8500' turned heavy and damp, will form Melt/Freeze crusts by tomorrow. The odds of triggering this week's wind slabs will continue to diminish, the possibility remains for isolated, hard, connected pieces in alpine areas and complex terrain.
Pic 1- NE Box Elder peak with (left) storm slab and (right) 2 deeper old snow slides.
Pic 2, 3- Old snow pieces
Pic 4- Storm slab in a NE-SE facing mid-elevation feature
Pic 5-Storm slab on a S face
Pic 6-Wind-obscured storm slab on an upper SE face
Pic 7- Approach
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
Coordinates