Observation Date
2/6/2020
Observer Name
Thomas
Region
Salt Lake » Neffs » Thomas Fork
Location Name or Route
Neff's - Thomas Fork
Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Cracking
Collapsing
Poor Snowpack Structure
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
Even outside of wind-affected areas, the new heavy snow was failing and propagating on the new snow/old snow interface. We saw a ton of shooting cracks and experienced a number of sudden collapses while skinning up, even at low elevations. There wasn't enough new snow at the time of our ascent to be seriously concerning, but with additional loading, this could be a serious problem. Very touchy conditions.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
Higher up in Thomas Fork (between 8200 and 9600 feet), we encountered pockets of wind drifted snow on North thru West aspects. The wind slabs were more cohesive and less touchy than the heavy storm snow down low, but we still saw multiple shooting cracks and collapses while skinning. While skiing down I was able to pull out a small, wind-drifted pocket under a rollover.
Comments
Travel today was up Thomas Fork in Neff's Canyon. We observed multiple shooting cracks and were able to pull out a few small pockety windslabs. Even the snow in lower Thomas Fork (below 7k feet) was touchy and surprisingly reactive.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
High
