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Observation: Mineral Fork

Observation Date
1/6/2018
Observer Name
Brackelsberg
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Mineral Fork
Location Name or Route
Mineral Fork
Weather
Sky
Obscured
Precipitation
Light Rain
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
It felt like be transported to the PNW. Rain at the trailhead and up to 8500'. Heavy snow falling fro 8500' to 9500'.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Faceted Loose
Snow Characteristics Comments

Lower Mineral Fork slopes were mostly bare of snow. Mid elevations were a mixture of completely faceted snowpack and facets with a pencil hard crust with ~15cm of snow on top.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments

Barrieto had slid (I assume naturally) almost full path and onto the summer road. Where it had slide there was a stout bed surface crust. Just a few meters away, the entire snowpack was faceted and fist hardness.

Comments

Where Baretto had slid was a very hard bed surface. Just a few meters away was completely faceted snowpack.

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