Observation: Meadows

Observation Date
12/22/2020
Observer Name
Matt Asay
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Silver Fork » Meadows
Location Name or Route
Silver Fork/Meadow Chutes
Red Flags
Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure
Comments
Did a few laps in Silver Fork while awaiting a friend. Everything east-facing had crusted - hard - but was highly variable (some supportable ice, some unsupportable crust - choose your own adventure). North/northeast-facing slopes were soft, the snow turning into a dense cream. Made for fun skiing but, as with east-facing, was somewhat variable. Except below 8400 feet, which was complete and utter garbage (various flavors of icy crust). Didn't experience any collapsing or cracking at any elevation.
All of which is a long way of saying that the new snow is going to fall on all sorts of snow, none of it particularly welcoming. I'm guessing south-facing aspects (along with west- and east-facing) are ice/breakable crust, which could lead to upwards a foot of new snow easily shearing/sliding off the underlying crust layer. North-ish (and east-ish) aspects that aren't ice have that faceted layer still buried, still waiting. Someday we'll be skiing the big lines again. Not sure I'd make tomorrow that day.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable