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Observation Date
1/13/2017
Observer Name
AIARE 2
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Cardiff Fork
Location Name or Route
Reynolds Flat, Cardiff Fork
Weather
Sky
Broken
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
West
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
On and off S~1 precip during the afternoon. Pretty moderate temps today, stayed right around ~2C.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments

Multiple rain crusts observed in the snow pack, along with two graupel layers. Surface snow was dry, but getting close to being moist at 7,400'. HS was between 110-130cm.

Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments

Where we were today the main problem seemed to be the storm slab from the last week with a graupel layer that was reactive in Compression Tests. The storm slab had a number of rain crust layers at this low elevation of 7,400'. These crusts will probably disappear with time, but may cause near crust facets to form above and below in the meantime.

Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments

Did not observe any wind slabs today, but assume they exist in the higher elevations that are less protected.

Snow Profile
Aspect
Northeast
Elevation
7,500'
Slope Angle
26°
Comments

Surprisingly warm snow pack at this elevation. About half of the pack was sitting at 0*C with moist snow. Lots of rain crusts at this elevation. All in all the snow pack here is pretty stable. I would expect the crusts to disappear in the future with the depth of snow, but would also expect some near crust facets to be forming in the mean time. Photo below is of the graupel layer of most concern here. Also a video of the CT and the PST performed on the graupel layer with no result, and a PST lower in the pack just above a rain crust.

Video
Video
Video
Today's Observed Danger Rating
None
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
None
Coordinates