Observation: Meadows

Observation Date

1/14/2018

Observer Name

Glew

Region

Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Silver Fork » Meadows

Location Name or Route

Meadow Chutes

Weather

Sky

Clear

Wind Speed

Calm

Weather Comments

Really warm and no wind.

Snow Characteristics

Snow Surface Conditions

Faceted Loose

Melt-Freeze Crust

Damp

Snow Characteristics Comments

The snow was gettng cooked on SW-S-SE aspects. Thin surface hoar on many slopes even up to the ridges. Dug a pit on a NE facing aspect at 9,500 ft. Slope angle 20 degrees. HS 100 cm. CT12 Q1 failing on depth hoar. ECTP24 SC also failing on depth hoar.

Red Flags

Recent Avalanches

Rapid Warming

Poor Snowpack Structure

Red Flags Comments

Poor structure in snowpack. Rain crust noted up to about 9000 ft with facets below. The avalanche from a couple days ago in Bananna Days was rather impressive. There were also fair amount of recent tracks in steeper northerly facing slopes in the Meadows with no signs of avalanches. I was not sold on hoping into those slopes as well based off the current state of the snowpack. There are many slight aspect changes in Meadows which I feel like many people don't realize. Just beacause you see tracks down a slope doesn't mean it's safe. The tracks you see are on a SE aspect and if you ski just to the right of them, well your now on a NE aspect which is much less safe right now. It's a tricky situation out there currently.

Today's Observed Danger Rating

Considerable

Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating

Considerable

Observation: Meadows

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