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Observation: Mill Creek Canyon

Observation Date
11/12/2020
Observer Name
Grainger
Region
Salt Lake » Mill Creek Canyon
Location Name or Route
Millcreek/Sound of Music
Weather
Sky
Clear
Wind Speed
Calm
Weather Comments
Quintessential Wasatch (mini) powder day. Zero clouds, calm winds through late afternoon. Temps in the single digits early climbing to high 20s by afternoon. Little evidence of yesterday's storm winds aside from superficial texturing on exposed ridgelines. Southerly slopes showed solar effect in the new snow by early afternoon.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
6"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments
Travel up Millcreek to the PC ridgeline and the greater Murdock area. Very light new snow in Millcreek ranged from 2" ~6000' to a uniform 6" in the upper basin w/ slightly more in fetches over the PC ridge. In some areas steeper areas last night's snow ran on Tuesday snow's low-density end. Not much wind effect was apparent from yesterday's pulse, just light texturing right on ridgetops (Pic 2). In general the area showed slightly damp 4F- at the ground to F- on the surface.
The only layer of interest showed in an ENE pit @ 9300' just down from the PC ridgeline.
Pit with HS 53 produced multiple resistant-planar results on a density change 19 cm from the ground (Pic 1). STM, CT27 and ECTP25 all softly popped this layer within the 11/8 storm snow on what could be dendrites from an early morning pulse.
This was the only area I saw this and don't have future stability concerns due to the entire snowpack's light density. What will be of concern is tomorrow night's snow coming in wet & windy and slabbing on top of this low density. I anticipate Saturday being the first activity of the season.
In general the NW through E of higher Millcreek and PC ridgeline terrain hold enough snow to cover ground obstacles and create the weak interface if Friday/Saturday produce. Moderate hazard by Friday night.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Low
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
Coordinates