Observation: American Fork

Observation Date
2/10/2020
Observer Name
Porter
Region
Provo » American Fork
Location Name or Route
American Fork Canyon
Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Cracking
Poor Snowpack Structure
Snow Profile
Aspect
West
Elevation
9,100'
Comments
Generally fun surfy skiing on northerly sheltered slopes, southerly had a new sun crust. Exposed ridges were scoured on the west and loaded on the east. I found a wind slab above a road cut that released sometime over the weekend, either natural or because of a snowcat passing, it seemed to have failed on the same weak layer about 30cm down that I found in my pit around the corner. May have been the little bit of low density snow before the high density Thursday-Friday storm. I wanted to see how the new snow was bonding, and I found the 8cm Saturday storm snow kicked off easily underfoot when skinning, and the higher density Thursday-Friday storm snow was failing in tests 30cm down, but not propagating. I would guess both layers will continue to become less sensitive. Sled tracks all over Snake Creek and American Fork with no problems, things seem to be pretty stable.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Low