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Observation Date
1/5/2014
Observer Name
Hardesty, Wilson, Paradis, and Watson
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Silver Fork
Location Name or Route
Grizzly to East and West Bowl of Silver
Weather
Sky
Clear
Wind Direction
Northwest
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Cold. Moderate winds along the ridgelines; drifts noted up to a foot deep, though pockety and not continuous. Some wind damage noted well off the ridgelines.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
4"
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments

Low density above melt freeze crusts, old wind board and a touch of recrystallized prior to the "storm".

Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
No cracking, collapsing, or recent slides observed...actually that's not exactly true - looked down Jaws of Days Fork and saw what was likely a natural shallow wind slab initiated slide that left a size 1.5 debris pile in the transition below; likely occurred Saturday morning as it had a couple inches of snow on the soft slab debris...all new snow/no step down. Plenty of shovelling provided evidence of wide range of spatial variability; many areas no slab, many areas with decomposing slab. Minor sluffing in steepest terrain. Impressed to see no lines skiied in Main Days; with only a few in Upper Days.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments

Inconclusive and conflicting results from myriad "stability" tests; non-standardized ECT did elicit full propagation (ie - no propagation after 30, so started again on other side of the extended column. HS in mid elevation shady ranged from 70cm to 120cm.

Plenty of weak faceted snow on south facing among the crusts....would not overlook this poor structure with a significant snow load...

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

Some noted even with the uphill "fetch" off steep northwest facing East Bowl of Silver; though pockety as described before.

Bottom Line seems like pockets of Moderate for persistent slab issues and same for wind drifts up high.

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