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Observation: Chicken Sh#! Ridge

Observation Date
3/23/2018
Observer Name
Brackelsberg
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Days Fork » Chicken Sh#! Ridge
Location Name or Route
Days Fork, Chicken Sh#! Ridge
Weather
Sky
Obscured
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Speed
Calm
Weather Comments
Wet snow was falling on and off through the morning. The wind was calm and no snow transport was observed.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
3"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments

The snow ranged from wet and unsupportable down low to a supportable crust with new snow on top higher up. In the trees, the snow had not cooled enough for a supportable crust and a wet slab was able to be easily isolated with a hand pit. On the open above 8500' the snow surface had frozen and was supportable. There was a thin layer of graupel on top of the crust. The new snow was adhered very poorly to this crust and small, long running sluffs were common.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
A large, natural avalanche was observed across the fork on Quick Silver. Overall a very poor snowpack on mid elevations due to the rain on Thursday.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wet Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments

Mid elevation web slaps were a concern and easily isolated in a hand pit. The entire snow pack was saturated in these areas.

Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #2 Comments

In the open areas where the snow surface refroze, there was a very weak layer under the frozen surface. The dense, new snow on top of this crust with the weak layer below was easy to initiate. Additional weight to this weak layer could be problematic.

Comments

Quick hand pit at 9200' showing the weak layer under the rain crust.

A sure sign of spring (or just a heavy rain). Runnels were common in the mid elevation slopes.

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