Observation Date
12/4/2023
Observer Name
Ambler, Smith
Region
Salt Lake » Neffs » Thomas Fork
Location Name or Route
Thomas Fork
Weather
Sky
Broken
Weather Comments
In the morning the skies above were overcast but breaking to the west with parts of the Oquirrhs illuminated with blue skies beyond. By the time we got got down most of the valley was sunny and clear. It was a warm day 50 degrees F according to the car at 4pm.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
13"
New Snow Density
High
Snow Surface Conditions
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
I've experienced worse and called it skiing. However this wasn't particularly enjoyable. I'm suspicious that higher quality turns are to be had near the top of the drainage but the toll is just a little too high and is charged on both entry and exit. The snow surface was damp from parking lot to pit site at 7700'. There's about 6 inches of snow where Thomas fork leaves Neff's trail and it slowly deepens as you make your way up the drainage. There is not a solid base and travel is difficult in both directions. Everything below somewhere around 7500' received rain and pictured below are some cool looking runnels.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Heavy Snowfall
Cracking
Collapsing
Rapid Warming
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
This time we're missing wind loading. I don't believe we traveled high enough to see the affects of the wind rearranging the snow.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
Where we stopped to dig a pit we found a very reactive layer of buried surface hoar. We walked around and dug a few hand pits and found this layer to exist elsewhere but with smaller grains and less reaction. Due to the dampness and increasing depth I have to imagine this layer is may have begun it's healing process. It's also presumably not ubiquitous throughout the drainage. However in and around this meadow today it was a fun find we felt worth reporting. There were rounding facets below the surface hoar pretty much to the ground. I was able to make a snowball with all of the scoopable layers. This info is from 7700' and likely tells a very different story than the conditions in the more consequential terrain above.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wet Snow
Problem #2 Comments
This feels more like problem number 1 at this elevation and below due to the recent activity. However below this elevation there isn't enough snow to facilitate a severe avalanche or even invite a skier into an area where they're likely to be caught by one.
Snow Profile
Aspect
Northeast
Elevation
7,700'
Slope Angle
10°
Comments
The ECT failed when I placed the shovel on the column but prior to the first tap. Somewhere between and ECTPV and ECTP1? Anyways, very touchy surface hoar in this spot bringing all the new snow with it. Note there is still a density inversion in the new snow. The facets above the mf crust are rounding but have yet to gain much strength. The facets below are rounding and 4f hard. I'll share some photos of the buried surface hoar on a 2mm grid, a facet snowball and a shooting crack we witnessed with a collapse.
The photo below is from the lower portion of the burn area, it was all damp. Facets and new snow were perfect snowball quality. About 10 inches of snow. Below that is a man questioning his recent decisions. And at the bottom you'll find the rain runnels.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
None
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
None
Coordinates
