Observation: Silver Fork

Observation Date
12/15/2024
Observer Name
Malone, Morgan
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Silver Fork
Location Name or Route
Silverfork
Weather
Sky
Scattered
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
Northwest
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Snowfall early in the day consisted mostly of graupel with some stellars, with no precipitation most of the afternoon. High, fast moving clouds throughout afternoon with clearing around 3 p.m.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
4"
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Dense Loose
Snow Characteristics Comments
We could feel a melt freeze crust under today's new snow on E and SE aspects, wind deposition with higher density along ridge tops, and a noticeable density inversion on N and NE in the top 20 cm that we attributed to this morning's graupel (photo 1) and wind.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Wind Loading
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Poor structure persists with well developed, dry facets from the ground to the mid pack on N through NE. We didn't dig on W, S, or E aspects.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
We dug multiple hand pits on N through NE between 9k and 9500'. New snow was unconsolidated and fist hardness in protected areas, with a decomposing crust mid pack, and fist minus, well developed dry facets on the ground in all hand pits (photo 2). On the ridge, we found 4 finger hardness wind drifted snow on top of the decomposing crust and fist minus facets, creating an upside down structure with stronger over weaker snow.
We observed debris from a natural small avalanche in Days Fork in rocky terrain (photo 3, poor focus but gives an idea of terrain, another observer reported this earlier), which we suspected was due to graupel pooling from rolling over cliff bands after this morning's precip, tipping the scale on top of the PWL.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #2 Comments
We identified wind slab along the ridge tops with compacted four finger snow. We didn't find any evidence of mid slope or cross loading wind slab today, but we were in a very isolated (and protected) area and I'm sure it was out there. Would guess this is present mid slope in higher elevations. This will continue to be a problem if we have high winds in tomorrow afternoon's predicted system (which may bring wind without snow) with plenty of new snow available for transport.
Snow Profile
Elevation
9,600'
Below photo of graupel.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
Coordinates