Observation: Chicken Sh#! Ridge

Observation Date
2/5/2021
Observer Name
L. Dunn
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Days Fork » Chicken Sh#! Ridge
Location Name or Route
Days Fork - Chicken Sh#! Ridge
Weather
Sky
Obscured
Precipitation
Heavy Snowfall
Wind Direction
Northwest
Wind Speed
Strong
Weather Comments
The weather today was the real deal, heavy snowfall, strong winds, blowing snow, the stuff of dreams.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
10"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments
It was kind of hard to tell how much new snow fell on the hill today as the wind was transporting a lot of snow. Suffice to say, above 9k, all evidence of the skin track and ski tracks was erased between laps. The new snow went back and forth between heavily rimed particles and fluffy dendrites, but it seemed like the heavily rimed variety was more prominent. The afternoon winds during the passage of the cold front produced some shallow surface slabbiness, but it was not enough to produce any cracking. I suppose if enough snow falls tonight on top of this wind effected layer there could be a bit of a density inversion. Hasty pits revealed the overall pack on this southeast aspect slope we were climbing and skiing consisted of about a foot+ of powder on top of a firm and supportable sun crust. Beneath the sun crust was the usual weak faceted snow. We observed no settlement or cracking today. At least on this slope the underlying sun crust appears to be supportable. However, we stayed on the southeast aspect, where this crust seems pretty stout, as much as possible, and avoided the terrain traps/gullies and the steep break-overs. Despite the wind and heavy snow, we saw no sluffing or any other signs of instability.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Those buried facets...the stuff of nighmares.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable