UDOT PLANNED AVALANCHE CLOSURES!!

Observation: Meadows

Observation Date
1/16/2014
Observer Name
Jake Hutchinson
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Silver Fork » Meadows
Location Name or Route
Solitude to Silver Fork, Meadows Chutes
Weather
Sky
Few
Wind Direction
West
Wind Speed
Calm
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Dense Loose
Faceted Loose
Snow Characteristics Comments

Settled new snow with a variety of surface conditions - good, fast skiing

Red Flags
Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Poor structure was the only constant in pits and tests today. Results varied widely, but no bullseye clues - lots of people skiing all over.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments

I just feel the facets didn't get enough load, unless you find the thin/weak spot. Looks like this problem will linger until the next storm. I see stability slowly increasing in the coming days.

Comments

As stated above, test results varied greatly across slopes with very similar snowpack layering and structure. Demonstrating the challenge of relying on snow pits as a sole source of info. We had no cracking, collasping, whoomphing etc....keeping big picture and season history in mind is important in making go/no go decisions right now. Some pits will show very stable snow while other show the opposite. pic is of an ECTP13 SC failure at 9700' in Silver Fork on a 32 degree east facing slope. Video shows a second ECT done a few feet away. A third pit on the same slope revealed no results or ECTX.

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