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Observation: Mineral Fork

Observation Date
1/16/2016
Observer Name
larry dunn
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Mineral Fork
Location Name or Route
Mineral Fork BCC - GB No
Weather
Sky
Obscured
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Weather Comments
Light snow developed by mid day with heavily rimed snow accumulations of about 1 inch during the afternoon. There was no wind at through the day at the mid slope elevations in Mineral Fork. We did not go to the ridge, nor could we see the ridge to determine if there was wind on the ridge, but if there was, it wasn't mixing down into the drainage.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
1"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments

The snow was not as deep as what I saw in Upper BCC and Upper LC on Friday, with the new snow in Mineral Fork having settled to about 1 foot in depth. However, the snow provided more flotation and kept us off the old tracks more than on Friday. So, while Friday provided nearly continuous in your face powder skiing that looked like the greatest skiing of your life while your skis were actually riding on the underlying crust, the skiing was actually better today

Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Red Flags Comments
There was debris from a small avalanche that came down from the very steep starting zones near the Mineral Fork/Lake Blanche ridgeline. Based on the snow on the debris, the slide occurred late Friday or Friday night. The debris did not run very far down the slope. I took a picture but the light was too flat to produce anything worth posting.
Comments

The underlying surface on this northeast facing mid-elevation slope (GB No) was a mixture of settled powder and some wind slabs that were buried by 1 foot of new snow. We experienced no cracking or settlement at all through the day. We never pushed into the steep starting zones above the slope, but started skiing just below them. We did ski over a number of convex break overs with no activity. Skiing conditions were excellent. I don't think I've ever seen as many skiers/riders in Mineral Fork as I did today. I think there were nearly 20 vehicles parked on the BCC road at the trailhead and I saw at least 9 more skiers/riders enter the drainage from the East Fork.

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