Observation Date
12/4/2013
Observer Name
C Brown
Location Name or Route
Deer Valley (Empire)
Weather
Sky
Clear
Wind Direction
Northeast
Wind Speed
Calm
Weather Comments
Some Fog lingering down in the valley ~8,000'
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
16"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments
New snow was about 16" 4f density.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Heavy Snowfall
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
16" of new snow at 4f is sitting above large advanced facets/depth hoar of F density, crystals 2-3mm
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wet Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
Observed some minor sluffing while skiing down
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
The 16" new snow is sitting above 10" of advanced facets. New snow slab is denser than basal facets with > 1mm difference in grain size.
Snow Profile
Aspect
East
Elevation
9,600'
Slope Angle
28°
Comments
The basal facets are very large and advanced showing textbook striations. Sorry for the quality of the photos. ECT produced no results on first 30, but added force on new section of column produced a Q3 fracture at the 10" mark on 32 taps, in the top of the faceted layer.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable
