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Observation: Silver/Days

Observation Date
2/12/2019
Observer Name
Nate & Aaron
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Silver/Days
Location Name or Route
Silver Fork & Days Fork (East Bowl & Upper Days respectively)
Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Cracking
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
The S-SW winds were prevalent on all ridge lines today (moderate w/ strong gusts). Even working into mid elevation slopes and spaced out trees. Wind scour, wind skins, and wind slabs were found throughout our travels today on a variety of aspects and elevations.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Cornice
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
An abundance of cornices out there, including small ones on cross-loaded slopes and monstrous ones from the dominant Southerly wind direction recently. Travel was a tad more challenging than usual today on the ridge line due to heavy wind scour on the windward side and big cornices / wind drifts on the leeward side.
Comments
Photo 1 showing the snow being transported by the winds on the little cottonwood ridge line. Photo 2 showing localized cracking around skis from a fresh wind slab being formed by the winds today. Photo 3 showing the winds transporting snow into the N headwall of Days. I anticipate tomorrow's danger to rise to considerable with the incoming storm.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable