Observation: Happy Days

Observation Date
3/16/2018
Observer Name
Shaun, Weston D.
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Days Fork » Happy Days
Location Name or Route
Happy Days, Spruces
Weather
Sky
Broken
Wind Speed
Calm
Weather Comments
Building clouds throughout the afternoon as the next storm aproaches. Warm Temps 1C air temp recorded @ 7850' around 1400. Temps started to fall as afternoon pushed on.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
8"
New Snow Density
High
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments

We didn't get out into the field until about 1300. Surface snow on solar aspects was getting damp as we noted roller balls on East and West facing slopes as we walked up the lower part of Days drainage from Spruces. Boot Pen was 63cm (limited by crotch). The snowpack as a whole felt damp through and through.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Heavy Snowfall
Rapid Warming
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Warm temps, rain, and over an inch of water in the past 24hrs YIKES! Snow pit test results on NE aspect at 7850' HS 116cm CTH SC @35cm from the ground on damp rounding basil facerts underneith a stout Knife hard crust. ECTPH on the same layer.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments

Snow Pit test show initiation and propagation of rounding damp basil facets.

Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wet Snow
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments

Warm temps and strong sun this morning made for many roller balls on solar aspects in lower and mid elevations.

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