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Observation: Silver Lake Highway

Observation Date
1/28/2023
Observer Name
Hardesty and O'Connor
Region
Provo » American Fork » Tibble Fork » Silver Lake Highway
Location Name or Route
Silver Lake Highway
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
West
Wind Speed
Moderate
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
4"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments
Excellent skiing/riding conditions; solars have a crust beneath the new snow
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Wind Loading
Cracking
Collapsing
Red Flags Comments
One collapsing wind pillow with some 20' long shooting cracks in newly wind drifted terrain. Pic below.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
Size 1 naturals noted on drifted east facing slopes in the low and mid elevations.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #2 Comments
Curious weakness found 30cm down at 8800' and 9400' (east and northeast). ECTP12 at 8800'.....ECTN12 at 9400' (though less wind drifted). Honestly, the weakness was difficult to ID even with a lens; I suspect some minor faceting of stellars and perhaps some needle surface hoar. Suspect this to be the interface in the naturals noted above.
We experienced no cracking or collapsing on this interface*...but kept slope angles at and below 30 degrees. *possible in wind pillow noted above.
Comments
Cornices remain something to avoid.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
None
Coordinates