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Observation: West Porter

Observation Date
4/2/2022
Observer Name
S Donovan
Region
Salt Lake » Mill Creek Canyon » Porter Fork » West Porter
Location Name or Route
West Porter Fork
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
Snow surface was damp on all aspects below 8000' by 11:00am.
All of the March 28/29th storm had fallen as graupel in the West Porter area of Millcreek, which was capped with ~1" of warming powder from March 31st.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
ECTPN29 on the old January February facet layer. The snow capping the graupel layer is not significant enough to be an issue.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wet Snow
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
I was able to get some VERY slow moving wet(ish) slides moving on top of the graupel layer, 100'-200' vertical, on steep lower elevation Northerly aspects.
1st and 2nd photo: Destructive avalanche that I don't think has been noted yet that had potentially run after the mid-March storm cycle on the old PWL drought layer. The likely trigger was from snow pealing off of the warming rocks along the ridgeline.
3rd photo: Graupel layer caped with ~1" warming powder and soft crust below.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Low
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
None