Observation: Meadows

Observation Date
1/29/2013
Observer Name
Kendall-Kobernik
Region
Salt Lake
Location Name or Route
Silver Fork Meadows
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
Northwest
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Few moderate gusts but mostly manageable winds. Light snowfall with periods of blue sky poking through during the day.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
3"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments
2" overnight, 1 to 2" during the day. OUTSTANDING CONDITIONS!! Sluffing while skiing noted on the steepest rollovers.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Collapsing
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Lots of weak preexisting snow scattered around the Meadows especially as you drop lower in elevation. One small collapse noted on the skin track. Not enough new load to get things active.
Comments

I had to twist my partners arm to come look at snow on his day off. Chose the Meadows for what we thought would be manageable terrain for a good powder day. We thought mid elevation terrain would be out of the wind, for the most part, and wouldn't have received enough snow to overload the underlying weakness. This proved to be the case on all accounts. Moderate danger observed in this location. Enough weak snow around to cause concern with future weather, ie winds or larger new snow load.