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Observation: Main Gobblers

Observation Date
3/16/2016
Observer Name
Fred
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Mill Creek Canyon » Mill A » Butler Fork » Gobblers » Main Gobblers
Location Name or Route
porter fork to main gobblers
Weather
Sky
Broken
Wind Direction
Northwest
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
end of storm moving on today. Day started cloudy but by 3pm full on sun was out. Light to moderate wind today but it had been in the moderate to strong during the night.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
7"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments

new snow at 6k only 1-2 inches. up at 8-9k 7 inches or so on top of the 7-8 from yesterday. Once again the wind had worked the far west shoulder but the more central portion of the slope was not so wind affected.

There are still large pockets of graupel about but the slab issue from yesterday seemed to have healed up nicely. No real signs of instability from that issue.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Rapid Warming
Red Flags Comments
Real issue that I observed today was from the sun. It came out full force at about 3-4pm. Seemed to have an almost instant affect on steep east facing aspects about 8500 feet (ie the east facing ridge on the paradise run). Also snow below 8k was soggy if it did not have any north kick to it. It got warm quickly. Which will be the story for tomorrow I believe.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wet Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments

It's like skiing in september with the equinox only 4 or so days away. The sun is strong.

observed some steep lines skied today without incident.

rapid warming tomorrow will be the issue imo

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