Observation: west porter

Observation Date
12/23/2015
Observer Name
P Diegel/Z Wilson
Region
Salt Lake » Mill Creek Canyon » west porter
Location Name or Route
West Porter from the bottom
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Precipitation
Moderate Snowfall
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Wind swirling from all directions with graupel late in the day with the frontal passage, otherwise thick clouds but no precip
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
8"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments

Similar to other descriptions - 110 to 140 cm deep, weak facets under very thin/fragile crust under storm snow. No slab formation and riding & trail breaking mostly took place on the denser snow from yesterday(?)

Red Flags
Red Flags
Heavy Snowfall
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
We saw no sign of significant recent avalanches (limited visibility and desire to expose ourselves, though). No collapsing observed, cracking only within 40cm of our skis
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments

Hasty hand pits showed easy failure in storm snow ~ 30 -40 cm deep Q2. Strong swirling wind and graupel around 4pm was changing the snow around us quickly.

Comments

We stayed in low angle protected terrain and found great riding and challenging but not horrific trail breaking. Small test slopes were unreactive. Hasty pits showed easy failure in the new storm snow with no tendency to propagate. Observed very little natural activity (our visibility and filed of view was very limited). Visual indications were that hazard level was moderate, but seeing the weak deeper layers and the rapid transport with the slightest wind left us with no desire to get into steeper and more wind-affected terrain. Additional wind will be a game-changer.

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