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Observation: Silver Fork

Observation Date
3/7/2025
Observer Name
Kelly, Hollander, Rensford
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Silver Fork
Location Name or Route
Silver Fork
Weather
Sky
Obscured
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
North
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Light north winds with mostly obscured skies. The fog on the LCC side of things was thick and lifted once we got into Silver Fork. Air temperatures were below freezing and we noted some greenhousing and roller balls on southerly slopes even with limited sun exposure.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
18"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments
18"-20" of settled snow with a stiff old snow surface underneath. Photo of rimed stellar crystals. North and east facing aspects were soft snow surface while the south facing below 9,000' took some heat and was a bit grabby with a breakable crust below 9,000' upon our exit around 530PM.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Heavy Snowfall
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Problem #1 Comments
Photo of dry loose avalanches on steep north facing terrain around 10,000' in elevation.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Problem #2 Comments
Photo of cornices above the Silver Fork Headwall with dry loose avalanches underneath.
Comments
Today, we traveled on slopes less than 30 degrees on north-east facing terrain and slopes pushing 35 degrees on south facing terrain. We avoided steep north-east facing slopes with a thin shallow snowpack and checked snow depths on slopes we were unfamiliar with. We found snow depths from 6 feet up to 10 feet deep on north-east facing aspects where we traveled. We used thoughtful terrain choices and only exposed one rider at a time on terrain we were uncertain of. We stayed away from terrain which showed signs of recent wind loading and found great travel on all aspects 8,500'- 10,200' in elevation.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
None
Coordinates