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Observation Date
3/2/2014
Observer Name
tom diegel
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Days Fork
Location Name or Route
silver and days
Weather
Sky
Broken
Weather Comments
got quite warm in the sun in the morn, and the E/SE got a bit of a sun crust, but not bad.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
6"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments

I happened to be in the same spot briefly both Saturday and Sunday and dug quick hand pits in essentially the same place both days (wind-loaded, just below the ridge). Saturday I couldn't even isolate a column before it popped out on it's own accord; a bit unnerving. Today I could barely pry it out.

Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wet Snow
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments

I would not have wanted to be on a steep south facing line around noon today. the clouds came in, however, and kept things somewhat cooler, and it looks like there will be enough clouds tomorrow so heat-induced slides shouldn't be a problem?

Comments

For a "considerable" day people were skiing steep, somewhat avy-prone (leeward, high-ish, 38-degree slopes) with impunity. But I think that yesterday's early instabilities seemed to settle out very quickly?

Seems to me that if slopes with the deep faceted instabilities didn't run with 5" of water a couple of weeks ago and 2" in this storm that those slopes are "ok" now. However, what about those that did run and got reloaded? I haven't tempted those yet, and don't know how the bond/interface is......

And the next stormlet has enough wind and snow that one might be able to pull out new pockets?

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