Observation: Mill B South

Observation Date

12/26/2016

Observer Name

John Lemnotis

Region

Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Mill B South

Location Name or Route

Mill D South

Weather

Sky

Few

Wind Direction

East

Wind Speed

Calm

Weather Comments

Temps stayed consistently in the teens and no active wind loading on ridge lines hovering around 10K'.

Snow Characteristics

New Snow Depth

14"

New Snow Density

Low

Snow Surface Conditions

Powder

Wind Crust

Snow Characteristics Comments

Storm snow was pretty well behaved on low to moderate angle slopes today. Sluffs were running and could've been a issue if you pushed the slope angle today. The top 10cm of snow sheared easily in hand pits but overall the storm snow didn't seem to form a cohesive slab unless there was wind affect and was pretty well behaved on low to moderate angle slopes.

Red Flags

Recent Avalanches

Heavy Snowfall

Wind Loading

Cracking

Poor Snowpack Structure

Red Flags Comments

Touring around today we noticed a couple areas in Mill D south as well as mineral fork, E and W facing, that appeared to have released during the storm. None were very large or deep but there was movement nonetheless. The new load seemed to be bonding well to the old snow surface, I would suspect the surface instabilities to settle out pretty quickly. Most of the cracking that was noted today was found on W facing slopes with the exception of an E facing start zone on mid ivory. Cornices seemed stubborn. We didn't dig to the deep weak layers but I'm sure they're still there. E facing slopes on 10K' ridges were loaded.

Avalanche Problem #1

Problem

New Snow

Trend

Same

Problem #1 Comments

We had enough evidence today with cracking for me to keep this on my radar for at least another day. As the storm snow settles, forms more of a slab, and the temperature rises pretty drastically the upper snow pack could be reactive.

Avalanche Problem #2

Problem

Wind Drifted Snow

Trend

Decreasing Danger

Problem #2 Comments

You could see the surface ripples of wind affected snow today as well as cornices that formed with the storm and wind. Wind loaded slopes in low angle terrain were not reactive but cracking was present in start zones. These zones will continue to firm up and be stubborn.

Comments

Photo:

Today's Observed Danger Rating

Considerable

Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating

Moderate

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