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Observation: Bowman Fork

Observation Date
2/2/2016
Observer Name
Fred
Region
Salt Lake » Mill Creek Canyon » Bowman Fork
Location Name or Route
bowman fork to upper yellow jacket ridge to no where baker spring
Weather
Sky
Broken
Wind Direction
North
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
broken sky with light instabiltiy shower drifting through. and cold.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
8"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments

seemed like snow from the last few days of about 8-12". perhaps 2 new from just yesterday. cold light snow on the surface.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
snow seemed well behaved today. noticed widespred avalanche of the top few inches up the entire north facing part of the ridge to no where. There was no cracking or collapsing observed today. Pic of an entrance into depth hoar bowl shows a staunch wall that is forming from all the avalanche activity along this area. Shrubs and old wild flowers can be seem poking out at the top of the d.h.b. it has ran often this season. Also looking into alexander basin we observed formation of cornices on many of the rolls which sit in the bottom of the basin. The wind was active the past few days..
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments

Always in the back of the mind. I've done a bit of probing and found that the snow pack in Millcreek above 8k to be about 2 meters where it has not avalanched. I would hope that this would help with the deep slab issue. However many of the popular ski runs in this area have avalanched and the snow pack is not as robust. Then you get Mark White's ob from today and there you go.

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

snow pits have consistently shown a shear about 15 inches down. A clean shear but after about 14 taps 4 from the elbow.

Comments

attached pic of the repeater into depth hoar bowl.

Steep high elevation slopes I have to rate considerable.

mid and lower elevation less pitched (<33 degrees) I'd give moderate (area I traveled today).

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