Observation Date
12/3/2022
Observer Name
L. Dunn
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Mineral Fork » Moonlight
Location Name or Route
BCC>Mineral Fork>Moonlight
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
The winds were strong on the ridge above the Room of Doom in upper Mineral Fork with considerable snow transport when we first arrived, and then around 1pm the winds just went calm everywhere.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
6"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments
There was more evidence of wind damage in Mineral Fork than we saw the day before in Mill D (as you might expect). And still plenty of rocks on the lower portion of the road.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Collapsing
Red Flags Comments
We saw a couple of small pockets that released in the starting zone above Moonlight, but nothing big as was reported yesterday from GB No and Highline. This suggests that going up into the starting zone above Moonlight to start skiing might be a risky choice. Everyone we saw today was starting their run on lower angle terrain, lower than the usual starting spot. We had numerous collapses and hasty pits showed it's a bit of a junk show in the upper half of the snowpack with multiple layers from the past two storms, some graupel and facets. Some places there is stout wind board with just a few inches of new snow, other places there is much more new snow, but kind of hollow underneath.
The light was flat so I tried to show the small pockets with the red lines. They likely released during the storm early Thrusday morning. As noted above, these are not like the bigger avalanches that came off the same Santiago ridge to the north and south. This starting zone is still waiting for more load.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
