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Observation: Days Fork

Observation Date
1/16/2018
Observer Name
Hardesty, Cookler
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Days Fork
Location Name or Route
Days Fork from Spruces
Weather
Sky
Clear
Wind Speed
Calm
Weather Comments
Bluebird; cold at the trailheads, balmy in the sun.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Dense Loose
Faceted Loose
Melt-Freeze Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments

Surface hoar abounds since Saturday; even found at the higher elevations and ridgelines. Snow beneath the SH is faceting rapidly and - as the weakest snow now - will be a player at the low/mid-elevations, particularly at these elevations where the few inches of facets sit above the Jan 8/9 rain crust.

Skiing/riding conditions good on low angle recrystallized snow; damp or crusted on the off aspects.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Poor Snowpack Structure
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Problem #1 Comments

Still poor structure, yet sensitivity seems to be diminishing. Sure there was/were a new skier triggered slide in suspect terrain today, yet the sensitivity has markedly decreased in the recent days . No cracking, collapsing, and no full propagation on mid-elevation northerlies not too far from the avalanches in lower Main Days and Banana Days.

Comments

Poor structure and full propagation on facets below a 1cm sun crust (down 30cm on a cm of faceted snow).

Interesting little skier-triggered pocket on "ridgeline" down low between Upper and Main Days.

1' deep 35' wide on steep rocky rollover - boobytraps to continue to watch out for. NE facing 9750'? Unknown date.

Top picture looking down at small rollover; bottom picture of little persistent slab pocket.

Third picture of few cms of diurnal squares and surface hoar above the 8/9 rain crust.

Last two of previously reported avalanches in lower Main Days.

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