Observation: Soldier Fork

Observation Date
12/29/2018
Observer Name
P Diegel, C Gregerson
Region
Salt Lake » Mill Creek Canyon » Soldier Fork
Location Name or Route
Soldier Fork
Weather
Sky
Scattered
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Snow Profile
Aspect
North
Elevation
9,000'
Slope Angle
25°
Comments
Several hand pits near the top of N facing Soldier Fork showed about 80 cm of snow, consistent slight density gradient from fist+ at the surface to 4 fingers at the bottom, with about 10 cm dirty small-grained facets near the ground. Isolated columns failed first by the top ~20 cm sluffing off, then the rest of the column failed easily on the basal facets. There was no slab formation/cohesion in the wind-sheltered area we examined and no suggestion of propagation. We ventured onto small steeper slopes with no collapsing, cracking, or activity aside from minor sluffing. We noticed one skier-triggered sluff that entrained enough snow on a short 40ish degree NW facing slope to pile up ~1.5 - 2 m deep next to the creek in Butler Fork, on the opposite side of the creek from the summer trail and normal skin route - deep enough to be dangerous if you happened to be stopped there or carried by your own sluff. The steep N facing Wilson Chutes showed recent ski/snowboard tracks along with the S facing side of Wilson Peak.
We noticed enough evidence of moose activity to be on alert in the steep narrow gully.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate