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Observation: Days Fork

Observation Date
3/15/2019
Observer Name
Greg Gagne with Dave Pease
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Days Fork
Location Name or Route
Days Fork
Weather
Sky
Clear
Weather Comments
Day started out cool, and with clear skies, anything not getting direct sun stayed dry.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Melt-Freeze Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
When we exited Days Fork at about noon the snow on direct north-facing slopes > 8000 remained soft & dry. I think temps were cool enough in the morning to keep wet activity to a minimum. The low-density stellars faceted somewhat overnight and sluffed easily on steep, northerly aspects.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Rapid Warming
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wet Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
Saw D-1.5 on E/SE aspects in Banana Days and East Kessler from warming.
Comments
Generally Low hazard in the morning, moving to Moderate by late morning due to warming. I think the temps were cool enough to keep the snow from warming too quickly, and this gradual warmup may be helpful and allow the snowpack to adjust to the strong sun.
Photos of wet/loose sluff in SE-facing aspect in Banana Days as well as what appears to be a glide crack on Cardiac Ridge.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable