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Observation Date
11/5/2013
Observer Name
S.Greene
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Mineral Fork
Location Name or Route
Mineral Fork
Comments

Walked up Mineral Fork to check out the upper cirque. Alarmed to find very weak snow on the northeast facing access slope to the upper cirque. ECT 15 resulted in full propagation about 18 inches down. Rutschblock test failed when skier stepped onto the slab on the same layer as before. There appear to be three week layers in this area. One about 6 inches down (new snow) another 10-12" down and the alarmingly sensitive layer 18" or so down. Collapsing was noted above where the road switchbacks through the upper pines but below the cirque proper. The situation may be isolated but may likely develop into a large problem when significant weight is added to the snow pack. Never made it to the upper cirque due to the unstable snow below.