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Observation: Silver Fork

Observation Date
11/26/2018
Observer Name
CBrown
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Silver Fork
Location Name or Route
Upper Silver Fork
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Faceted Loose
Melt-Freeze Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
North and east is holding good snow. Shady north facing slopes have surface hoar in upper silver fork where the sun isn't melting it. South was damp or crusted.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Cracking
Collapsing
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Lots of large collapses and shooting cracks while walking around today. Evidence of previous avalanches and cracking/collapsed slopes. Lower angle run off East Pass into Silver Fork collapsed and spider web around me while skiing. Two pits at 9850' NE facing in West Bowl showed similar results. Pit one HS 65cm with 20-25cm large grained facets/depth hoar on the ground. No crust in this pit. CTM13 SC 20cm from the ground on depth hoar, ECTP12 same layer, no surprise there. Other pit had very similar results but had the slab sitting on large facets/depth hoar with a crust on the ground.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
All areas holding old snow from before the recent storm cycles are very touchy. Stay alert of paths above and around you even while traveling in the flats below.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable
Coordinates