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Observation Date
11/21/2012
Observer Name
Paradis
Region
Salt Lake
Location Name or Route
Days Fork
Weather
Sky
Clear
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
To keep out of the annoying wind, we traveled mostly in valley bottoms or in the lee side of ridgelines.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Dense Loose
Snow Characteristics Comments
Snow was widely variable, depending on elevation, aspect and exposure to the wind. At lower elevations, snow had warmed previously then was re-frozen this morning. At higher elevations, snow was more winter like, although south aspects were warming and will probably be firm tomorrow morning. Elsewhere, the wind was pushing around snow from last weekend. In more exposed areas this was dense and slightly grabby. On protected northerly slopes, the wind left nice soft snow that could pass for powder.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Problem #1 Comments
The wind was moving transporting snow today but we generally avoided more wind exposed terrain. It was possible to find very small drifts that would crack underfoot but these were hardly worth a mention. I suspect in more alpine terrain this may have been more of an issue.
Snow Profile
Aspect
Northeast
Elevation
9,600'
Slope Angle
25°
Comments
The east and northeast locations where I looked at the snow today did not have any facets at the bottom of the snowpack. In both cases these were just below 10,000 feet. The snow had a good density profile and became progressively stronger with depth. The bond between the older snow and the snow from this past weekend also appeared to be quite good. In both snow pit tests, I got very limited results with very little in the way of shearing.
Coordinates