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Observation: Mineral Fork

Observation Date
4/11/2019
Observer Name
Bo Torrey, Cal Hawley
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Mineral Fork
Location Name or Route
Mineral Fork
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Precipitation
Moderate Snowfall
Wind Direction
Northwest
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Cloudy and occasional snow showers for most of the day. Visibility was limited until late afternoon when the clouds began to break.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
18"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments
Upside down snow in most areas topped off with a few lighter density inches of snow 18"-30"
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Heavy Snowfall
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
Density inversion within the new snow was easy to slide in hand pits but very limited evidence of avalanching in most areas during our travels today.
Comments
Travel today was from Alta to Days Fork- Cardiff Fork- Mineral fork. Snow totals ranged from 18"-30". Snow was unreactive during our travels. We skied into a number of wind pillows expecting them to fracture but all stayed in place. Long running sluff in steeper terrain.
We noticed a recently skier triggered avalanche in Mineral Fork on GB NO and went to have a look. It was about 16" deep propagating 100' down slope, 150' wide, and running about 500' before fanning out on a lower angle slope. Ski tracks in, and ski tracks out. Weak layer was a mix of graupel and rimed precipitation particles 45 cm below the surface.
Video
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
Coordinates