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Observation: Mill D North

Observation Date
1/15/2014
Observer Name
mark white
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Mill D North
Location Name or Route
Mill D North, Buttler Fork
Weather
Sky
Few
Wind Speed
Calm
Weather Comments
Warmer today than yesterday, just a small breeze from the west.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Dense Loose
Wind Crust
Melt-Freeze Crust
Rain-Rime Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments

Seems like the last zipper rime crust event from Monday, has broken down with two cold clear nights, surface hoar growing in the drainage bottoms and on the slopes. South facing went from breakable melt freeze crust in the morning, to damp mank in the afternoon.

Comments

Realized today that the stout rime crust buried under a foot of snow in Cardiff is not near as stout in Mill D and Butler Fork and only buried about 6 inches deep. Got a good look into Mill B, Mineral and Broads and did not note any deep slab activity from the storm. Still suspect of steep slopes facing the north half of the compass, especially those slopes that get loaded by W-NW winds, such as Reynolds NE face, it looked loaded in the main gut and scoured on the skiers right side. The snow is really good for skiing moderate angled terrain, around 33 degrees and less, which makes me less anxious to push slope angles, not to mention the poor snow pack structure that we seem to be stuck with this year. Photos,

Some impressive surface hoar growth

Exposed rime crust from the wind

Safe and quality skiing on moderate angled terrain

Sticking with considerable on steep upper elevation NW through NE Moderate everywhere else.

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