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Observation: Miller Flat

Observation Date
2/28/2014
Region
Skyline » Huntington Canyon » Left Fork Huntington Canyon » Miller Flat
Location Name or Route
big meadow and Phone shot
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Started out clear in the morning turning overcast by noon, with light snow fall by 1 pm
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
4"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments

The snow was a dense powder that was wind affected, the powder was over a melt freeze crust .

Red Flags
Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
In loaded areas with a deep snow pack danger is low. In connected areas with a thin snow pact due to rocks or brush danger is still possible of a large slide, due to the weak snow from early in the season.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments

A persistent slab connected to the areas with a thin snow pack could slide with a more snow loading or snowmobiles.

Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
New Snow
Problem #2 Comments

A heavy snow fall could add enough weight to cause new slides, in the thin snow pack areas. The new snow over the melt freeze crust could get loaded enough to slide. These would not be very deep.

Comments

Snow pack was deep and strong in this location, did no test did not want to hurt my hand.

This picture was taken at the bottom of the phone shot. When this slid it went wall to wall even into the trees across the flats.

The snow stake shows 130 cm and even with 10 cm of new we have settled from 150 cm. As the snow stake states we can go any where if we are careful and stay off of steep slopes that have not slid yet.

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