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Observation: Mill Canyon Peak

Observation Date
3/14/2023
Observer Name
Staples & Osborne
Region
Provo » American Fork » Mill Canyon Peak
Location Name or Route
Mill Canyon Peak
Weather
Weather Comments
Strong sunshine in the morning was quickly warming the snow and causing wet loose avalanches in American Fork Canyon. Clouds and wind arrived by midday.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Characteristics Comments
The snow had been wet and was refrozen up to about 9000 feet. Powder was hard to find and above 10,000 ft and north facing. Even then there was about 10cm of snow (4 inches) on top of a crust.
By around 1pm the snow had softened on most slopes below 8000 feet.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wet Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
Wet snow was as the main hazard at low elevations with natural wet loose avalanches happening.
Comments
Since Feb 20th this area has received snow containing12-14 inches of water. This snow is right side up and very hard.
I have been hunting for facets that were buried on Feb 20th and they have been hard to find. I found them very easily in two locations today. Both around 10,000 ft and NE facing and E facing. Buried 1.1 to 1.3 meters deep (3.8 to 4.3 ft). About 4 fingers + hardness. Not a concern today where we were.
A layer like this is not a problem unless it receives a very heavy load of new snow.
The pit profile below is from a NE facing slope. The photo is from a E facing slope.
Winds were picking up and starting to move snow. Clouds began building around noon.
Around 8000 feet runnels in the snow have formed. (This is the "plumbing" in the snowpack that allows water to easily move through it)
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
None
Coordinates