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Observation: Broads Fork

Observation Date
4/6/2020
Observer Name
mark white
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Broads Fork
Location Name or Route
Broads Fork
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Precipitation
Light Rain
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Overcast skies with light rain below 8000ft, light snowfall above that, warm and humid. The wind looked to be cranking up high and moving loose snow on the Twins.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Melt-Freeze Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
Damp snow on all aspects below 8500ft, melt freeze crust above that up to 9500ft, didn't make it high enough to find any dry snow.
Comments
Took a walk up Broads Fork wondering about glide activity after a night of above freezing temps and no refreeze. The approach requires a mile or so of hiking in dirt at this point in time. There was one small glide avalanche in the usual place on skiers right of the Diving Board, but the big glide cracks on the rock slabs between the DB and Bonkers, and the Blue Ice have not released. That being said they looked primed to go, they have buckled up in some places and separated in others. Between the rain, warm temperatures and another night tonight without a propper refreeze I would say travel underneath or in there path would be asking for trouble, I gave them a wide birth today and would continue to avoid this terrain until we get a hard refreeze. There where also some decent sized wet slides of the SE facing in lower Bonkers. Seems like the rain line was moving up in elevation at my exit around 2:00
photos: wet slides, and buckeling glide cracks
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
Coordinates