Observation: Big Springs

Observation Date
12/16/2018
Observer Name
Wilson, Hardesty
Region
Provo » Provo Canyon » South Fork Provo R. » Big Springs
Location Name or Route
Big Springs
Weather
Sky
Few
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Calm winds, warm temps (into the 40's). Skin wax was not a mistake.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Dense Loose
Melt-Freeze Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
Snow surface not exceedingly weak; damp, then crusted over with early eve exit.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Older slide into old snow noted along the high east facing Cascade Ridge, pic below
Comments
Interested to see if basal facets in Big Springs Canyon to the east of Cascade Ridge would be any more or less reactive (or present) than in the central Wasatch. NE pit at 9200' and NNW pit at 9400' were not unlike pits from yesterday in LCC: facets present unreactive/dormant, CT results only from the shoulder, and no fracture propagation in either pit. The slab above is roughly a meter thick, and in the upper pit was pencil hard towards the bottom. The facet layer was 5cm and damp on the lower elevation northeast pit and 15 cm thick and 4F at the slightly higher and more northerly pit.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
Coordinates