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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
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