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Observation: Chicken Sh#! Ridge

Observation Date
12/17/2020
Observer Name
Champion and Staples
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Days Fork » Chicken Sh#! Ridge
Location Name or Route
CSR - Days Fork
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Temperatures dropped and precipitation began around 11AM. Consistent light snowfall, and increasing winds. While the winds were overall light, they increased throughout the tour with moderate gusts at upper-elevations and ridgelines.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Cracking
Collapsing
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
A lot of obvious red flags in Days Fork today, consistent cracking and collapsing throughout the tour. Overall a very poor snowpack structure, and the most obvious red flag being recent avalanches. We went to check out an avalanche triggered earlier this morning, and on the way out a 40' wide and 200' vertical avalanche pulled out on a 30-degree slope at 9200'. It was slow-moving, but further shows that slopes just on the cusp of 30 degrees want to avalanche.
Snow Profile
Aspect
East
Elevation
9,000'
Slope Angle
27°
Comments
Greg said it well in his observation from earlier today, all obvious signs are in place. We noted 4 of the 7 red flags during our tour, and the snowfall rate and winds are forecasted to increase bringing the red flag count to 6 out of 7. A very poor snowpack structure exists on almost all aspects, and areas this poor snowpack structure doesn't exist has very low-tide and dangerous riding conditions. The increased snowfall will only continue to add a load to the weak faceted snow, and we will continue to see more avalanches on more slopes.
Judging on what we saw today, I would avoid travel in avalanche terrain tomorrow.
Low elevation has a shallow snowpack, but the poor snowpack structure still exists.
Large 4-6mm faceted and cupping grains located under the crust, the main layer of concern where it exists.
An avalanche triggered in Day's Draw earlier this morning.
Large shooting cracks occurring throughout the day.
An avalanche triggered on a 30-degree slope at 9200'. Propagated 10' above the skier, slow-moving but still caught us by surprise.
Video
Video
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
High
Coordinates