Observation: Days Fork

Observation Date
11/30/2014
Observer Name
Tyler Falk
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Days Fork
Location Name or Route
Silver Fork, Grizz, East Bowl to West Bowl to Emma
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Calm
Weather Comments
Snow tapered off by noon. DIdent see the 3-5" they were calling for in upper silver fork. Mabey 2" new.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
2"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments

Ski penetration around 5" on East aspects around 10k. South aspects had dust on crust but was supportable.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Poor Snowpack Structure
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments

Persistent slabs on NW-NE aspects above 9k.

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

Found a few old non reactive windslabs. Seamed to be stuborn today.

Had a walk around Silver Fork today. Route was up Grizz into East Bowl then West bowl for a few runs and out the Emmas. S1 snowfall rates ended by noon. Saw a few slides that likely pulled out a few days ago in upper Silver and Days fork. Both slides were on NE aspects at the top of Silver and Days. The north facing silver fork slide was fairly wide maybe a few hundred feet wide and down to the old snow. The days slide was by two dogs and a smaller pocket. 2mm facets were found on the ground on east facing pits. 3mm grains found on aspects with more north. ECT's on East aspects at 10k were failing on 2mm facets from 13cm to 26cm from the ground, Q2 sheers. PST 70/100Arr on 2mm Facets on East aspects @10k. Did not get a chance to dig a ton on North, would be interested to see if Q1 sheers are still occurring on those aspects near the ground still, I suspect they still are.

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