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Observation: Mill D North

Observation Date
12/24/2013
Observer Name
J.Spitzer
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Mill D North
Location Name or Route
Mill D North
Weather
Sky
Broken
Weather Comments
Warm and damp in AM. Clouds clearing just before noon with temps dropping. Ridgline winds light with a couple gusts to moderate, enough to transport a bit of the new snow.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Dense Loose
Snow Characteristics Comments

Surface snow varied between powder, dense loose new snow, and near ridge lines the formation of wind packed grains. The better skiing was in the protected glade trees 100ft below ridge-lines. The recent medium density snow fall and graupal made the bouncy skiing conditions today in the b/c the best i've had so far of the season.

No evident of Rime crust where I was today.

Still overall a pretty thin snowpack.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Cracking
Collapsing
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
While breaking trail today we witness several large collapses in our group along with many shooting cracks. These major indicators are an excellent reason to get out of the current skin track and break your own from time-to-time.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments

The lingering persistent slab problem isn't going to go away anytime soon looking at the extended forecast. We had several large collapses and shooting cracks on West and North aspects today all above 8,500ft. The larger collapses took place when all members in our group where skinning or close together.

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

Recent new snow with light to moderate winds and gusts. Probably small and shallow but enough to give you a suprise. I would venture to guess these would be isolated pockets right below and near ridge-lines

Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable