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Observation: Fairview Canyon

Observation Date
1/23/2019
Observer Name
Darce Trotter - Steve Cote
Region
Skyline » Fairview Canyon
Location Name or Route
Top of Fairview Canyon
Weather
Sky
Scattered
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
cold but light winds in this area, not transporting the very low density snow, sun peeked out around noon for 30 minutes, clouded up in the afternoon, winds were starting to build a little but still not transporting snow
Snow Characteristics
Snow Characteristics Comments
Blower fluff snow, 6" or so that had fallen straight down, Steve was out yesterday and reported even deeper fluff on GE Hill proper. The Wind had not gotten to much of the new snow in the areas we were in, but we had on purpose picked some more sheltered terrain today, some exposed ridgetops did have wind, but not transporting any snow early in the day. Well defined cold stellars stacked up made for hero turns, fast and fun on low angle terrain
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Wind Loading
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
there is plenty of low density snow that will be easily transported, and in areas like near GE weather station where winds are funneled, it was moving a little snow. We picked a pretty fat area to look at the snowpack, remain very wary of thin rocky recently loaded NE, N, NW areas, also any repeaters are still suspect. The thick pack is healing well and most activity likely in the new snow layers.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Same
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #2 Comments
In thin rocky areas
Snow Profile
Aspect
Northeast
Elevation
9,500'
Slope Angle
44°
Comments
we found a great little test slope just off windward ridge that was loaded but not big enough to really hurt us
Video
ECT would not fail on graupel layer, when pried upon, did get clean shear likely from storm interfaces
Video
Video
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable
Coordinates