Observation: Silver Fork

Observation Date
12/29/2020
Observer Name
Menk
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Silver Fork
Location Name or Route
Silver Fork
Red Flags
Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
PWL still sitting at the bottom of the snowpack as many have noted in their observations. The slab above seems to be gaining strength but i'm extremely suspect.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
Lots of evidence of wind in the afternoon/overnight last night. I didn't travel much above 9,500 ft but it was much more noticeable at the ridge and i'm sure higher elevations got hammered.
Comments
Got out early this morning for a lap in Silver Fork. Ascended the aspens below the meadow chutes to peak 9,699 then rode skiers right of Brad's Line in the lower angle trees then back into the gully before the terrain steepens in the bottom 1/3 of the run. No wind this morning but clear evidence of East winds last night from the snow surface and at the ridge. Days Fork was looking thin and the slopes which didn't run last week look ready to go.
Dug a pit right around 9,600 ft, NE aspect, depth was about 60-80 cms. My stability test resulted in ECTN 21 but I was a little confused by the way the side of my column collapsed on itself, I did not observe propogation. Temp near 20 cms was -4 C and at 65 cms was -10 C. Facets were observed around 2 mm in size and the following lemons:
1) Weak layer within 1 meter of surface
2) Hardness delta of 1 step between WL and adjacent layer
3) Persistent grain type
I would guess there is a grain size delta of 1 mm between WL and adjacent layer but I forgot to measure the grain size of the adjacent layer. We need snow.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable