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Observation: Mill D North

Observation Date
12/8/2013
Observer Name
C Brown
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Mill D North
Location Name or Route
Mill D; Dog Lake
Weather
Sky
Few
Wind Direction
West
Wind Speed
Calm
Weather Comments
Cold, light winds @ 8800'
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
14"
Snow Surface Conditions
Dense Loose
Snow Characteristics Comments

4f density on the top layer, denser than expected, wind slab from sat morning winds?

Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Heavy Snowfall
Wind Loading
Cracking
Collapsing
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Very obvious signs today, collapsing and whumphing when breaking trail, shooting cracks from skining. Slabs evident from the winds on Sat, more than a foot of new snow and a very poor snow structure made it very easy to see how unstable the snowpack is.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Problem #1 Comments

Found the weak layer very reactive today. The faceted layer under the recent storm snow (37-57 cm from the surface 2mm facets) was failing at CT2 w/ SC Q1, then an ECTP8 w/ the same SC Q1. PST 25/100 (End) 45cm. The 4F density storm snow/wind slab is teetering on the F density facets below. Definitely something to watch out for.

Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #2 Comments

Definitely seeing some of the wind slabs that formed yesterday.

Snow Profile
Aspect
East
Elevation
8,800'
Slope Angle
20°
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable
Coordinates