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Observation: Greens Basin

Observation Date
1/15/2023
Observer Name
Haffener
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Greens Basin
Location Name or Route
Brad's Line/Silver Spoon/Greens Basin
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Heavy Snowfall
Wind Loading
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
Observed dry loose on tour up Green's Basin on steep (>40) N facing aspects in am. The snow behaved well and didn't move much on E aspects in Silverfork (Brad's & Silver Spoon) during my tour. Winds and snowfall rates picked up at around 1:30 pm which definitely made the snow more reactive on my exit. Every roll or slope bumping into the mid 30s on NE in Green's Basin easily produced shallow soft storm slabs 0.5-1' deep that were isolated and small. I expect these are only growing bigger with more snow this evening and overnight. Also ski cut numerous dry loose on exit in pm on steep N in Lower Greens Basin. The new snow in lower Greens (8200' on N) was only 4" deep by 3 pm but was poorly bonded to a punchy MFC.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Comments
Toured from Green's Basin up to Peak 9699'. Skied down Brad's Line. Ascended Silver Spoon. Skied down Silver Spoon. Ascended Silver Spoon. Skied down left most shoulder of Green's Basin to ski NE and out to Spruces. Skies were obscured much of the day with cold enough temps to produce low density powder during my tour. S-1 snowfall in am picking up to S1 (maybe more at times) starting around 11:30 am. Calm winds gusting light in am increasing to moderate around 1:30 pm from the NW. Wind only felt in alpine above treeline in Silver Fork. New snow totaled 35 cm by 2:30 pm on upper Silver Spoon. No sluffs or slabs observed on Brad's Line or Silver Spoon during my tour. Some older soft debris in Ricardo's Roll. E aspects in Silverfork have a MFC underlying the new snow. The MFC is more noticeable and punchy below 9000' or on southerly tilted slopes.
One other comment about Lower Green's Basin - there are a lot of tree and stump sharks in this zone - watch out!
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
Coordinates