Observation: Silver/Days

Observation Date
4/16/2015
Observer Name
C Brown
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Silver/Days
Location Name or Route
Upper Silver, Days, Cardiff Fork
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
Northeast
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Over cast in the morning, becoming broken in the early afternoon. Winds were moderate with strong gusting on ridgelines above 10k', north with a definate east componet to them. Sun peaked out a few times throughout the afternoon.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
13"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Dense Loose
Wind Crust
Melt-Freeze Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments

Found a variety of snow out there today. Everything from wind blasted down to the old snow/dirt snow, to some lighter density powder. The winds have defiantly gotten on the snow, seems typical for this year, around the compass winds shortly after the storm. High winds have moved to the light density powder from Wednesday somewhere, had trouble finding where. Saw some deep wind drifts, wind slabs starting to form but lacking connectivity. No real shooting cracks in the wind slabs, fairly stable unconnected snow. Found the best snow between 9000' and 10,000' sheltered treed north and north west terrain. Defiantly bottom feeding most of the day. Exit at 6pm on South faces from Pole Line pass was a bit hateful. Few good turns up top then breakable crust everywhere down to the road (changing micro aspect did nothing). Skiing was variable, but the stability felt fairly good.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Red Flags Comments
Saw a lot of snow moving around, but the wind slabs were not very cohesive. Any cracking observed was not shooting any distance of more than about a foot. Did not observe any recent avalanches, but could have been hidden by the winds. Didn't really see rapid warming, by the end of the day all the snow other than steep norths were feeling damp. I expect when the sun does come out in full force there will be some wet activity
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments

Not a concern on Thursday, but if these slabs stiffen up I could see them becoming a problem.

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

As soon as the sun does get on the slopes would expect widespread wet activity.

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