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Observation Date
12/25/2016
Observer Name
Fred
Region
Salt Lake » Mill Creek Canyon » Porter Fork
Location Name or Route
Porter Fork
Weather
Sky
Obscured
Precipitation
Heavy Snowfall
Wind Direction
Northwest
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Snowing hard at times. WInd was not really present but occasional gust would get trees to drop their load. This is on the trail not on the ridge.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
16"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments

Snow depth at the trail head was only 4-6" at the start of the day. Surprising because there was a solid 12" on my driveway. Around 7k in elevation the snow became much deeper. At the upper meadow it was a solid 16 to 24" and about 8-10 in the trees.

Density change in new snow was very responsive to ski or ski pole cuts along the walls of the trail (1st pic).

Pit dug at the upper meadow reveald total snow depth of 57". Within the newer snow (since the last rain/snow event) you can see 3 distinct weak layers. And then there is the density change in the really fresh snow which is what is reactive. The buried facets will not exist on steep or wind effected terrain (second pic).

Red Flags
Red Flags
Heavy Snowfall
Red Flags Comments
Soooo much new snow. The Christmas miracle of 2016. I got the feeling that with a few more inches a natural cycle was ready to go off if it had not already. That said imo it will only involve the new snow.... all 20" inches of it. Don't know whta the wind was really up to here. I did not make the ridge.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments

There is a lot of new snow for the wind to move about.

Snow Profile
Aspect
North
Elevation
8,200'
Slope Angle
20°

I'm going considerable tomorrow with the assumption of not being on wind loaded or under wind loaded terrain and the occurrence of a natural cycle today/tonight.

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