Observation: Days Fork

Observation Date
12/17/2022
Observer Name
Menk
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Days Fork
Location Name or Route
LCC -> BCC
Red Flags
Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
The PWL is down there and is covered by 3-4' of snow.
Comments
Been out in the upper cottonwoods the last few days on a variety of aspects staying mostly above middle elevation band. I dug a pit on 12/17 in Days Fork and observed the following:
Elevation: 9,000'
Aspect: NE
Depth: 210 cm
Temp near surface: -10
Temp at 160 cm depth: -3
Fist hardness until 50 cm down, four finger to 80-90 cm, one finger until 100 cm, then fist again at 100 where the PWL is present. Structure is not there but the weak layer is now about a meter deep. Facets are still present and I did observe some rounding although not as much as I was hoping for. I did not experience any cracking or collapsing on my tours. Another good storm and this layer will be quite deep and hopefully at a more advanced stage of healing. I'm still not ready to trust N facing terrain but we're moving in the right direction.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable
Coordinates