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Observation Date
1/2/2013
Observer Name
Dave Kelly
Region
Salt Lake
Location Name or Route
Mineral Fork
Weather
Sky
Clear
Wind Direction
North
Wind Speed
Calm
Weather Comments
Calm winds from the north. Some signs of wind blowing off the ridgetops, but mainly calm. Temps were mid teens F.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Faceted Loose
Snow Characteristics Comments
Faceted loose snow on the more northerly wind protected terrain. On southerly aspects there was a slight sun crust right below the surface hoar and near surface facets.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Problem #1 Comments
Damp facets below the rain crust iniated fractures with compression and shovel shear tests. This layer although reactive did not break cleanly (Q3)and it appeared that there were some bonds between crystals.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wet Snow
Problem #2 Comments
Surface hoar and near surface facets on surface of snow made for great skiing, although they may haunt the snowpack later on in the season as they continue to grow with the upcoming high pressure. We did observe some sloughing within the top 15-30cm of new snow in terrain >38 degrees.