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Observation: Soldier Peak

Observation Date
12/19/2020
Observer Name
mark white
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Soldier Peak
Location Name or Route
Soldier Fork
Weather
Sky
Few
Wind Direction
Northwest
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Mostly sunny in the am, clouding up in the pm, with increasing winds from the NW as the day moved on.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Wind Crust
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Wind Loading
Cracking
Collapsing
Poor Snowpack Structure
Comments
Went to Soldier peak from Mill D North today, as we approached the top of N facing Soldier Fork we triggered a large collapse, watch the whole slope 30ft in front of us fracture into dinner plates and move a few inches, I was sure the whole slope was going to pull out to the ground but the pitch just wasn't quite steep enough and the slab not dense enough. That being said the snow pack is still quite sensitive and traveling in untraveled terrain still produces large collapses and shooting cracks, patients is key at this point in time and I'm holding my cards tight for the time being.
photos: cracks and spiderwebs remotely triggered on N facing Soldier Fork and the wind transporting snow in the afternoon
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable
Coordinates