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Observation: Tibble Fork

Observation Date
1/5/2023
Observer Name
Gagne/Covington
Region
Provo » American Fork » Tibble Fork
Location Name or Route
Tibble Fork
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Weather Comments
Lowering cloud deck with light rain in AF canyon leaving at 2 pm.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
Some recent wind drifts up to 15 cms thick, but cracking would not propagate.
Snow Profile
Aspect
Northeast
Elevation
7,600'
Comments
Tour today was along the ridge east of the Three Temptations. Numerous downed trees and bent-over willows made for difficult traveling in lower elevations. Our high point was 8,000', which is the lowest point of the mid-elevation band on our danger rose, so our observation reflects lower-elevation snowpack conditions.
Overall a stable snowpack where we were looking. One pit on a SW aspect at 7,500' was ECTX (no fracture with extended column test) and we could not get a fracture with the PST as the weakest snow was damp facets and depth hoar down near the ground.
The entire snowpack below 8,000 was moist - an isothermal snowpack on January 5.
Another pit on a NE aspect at 7,600' was also ECTX, with a CT 28/Q2 down 60 cms in a slight density inversion within recent storm snow.
Photos of two recent natural avalanches we saw above Deer Creek. The second photo was on an east aspect at ~8,000'
Numerous down trees and snow-covered low-elevation willows and shrubs make for challenging approaches and exits.
Timp getting ready for another storm.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable
Coordinates