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Observation: Broads Fork

Observation Date
1/5/2023
Observer Name
Meisenheimer / Trenbeth / Roxbury / Coyne
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Broads Fork
Location Name or Route
Broads Fork
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Weather Comments
Nice walking in the trees when the light was flat. Warm temperatures made the snow very heavy up to about 8,000'. Raining when we got back to the car at 3pm.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Wind Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
Below about 7500' the snow became very heavy. Once we gained the upper ridge some of the surface snow was wind effected and had a 1-3 inch thick wind slab. Made the skiing challenging.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Heavy Snowfall
Wind Loading
Poor Snowpack Structure
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Problem #1 Comments
Poor snowpack structure continues to make me pull back and ride terrain that had little to no consequence. Even though I think the snowpack danger rating is MODERATE for this area we acted and made choices like it was CONSIDERABLE. For me, the possibility chance of triggering a slab 2-4' deep and hundreds of feet wide has me stepping back. Most of us did not like the snowpack structure and the weak layer was easy to find and still softer than the snow around it.
Our ECT showed no result up to 30 taps. We removed some snow and hit it harder and it propagated across the column with a clean shear.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Video
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
Coordinates