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Observation: Days Fork

Observation Date
12/20/2023
Observer Name
Kelly, Pressman, Ernst
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Days Fork
Location Name or Route
Flagstaff-Days
Weather
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Overall the Central Wasatch had a tough day deciding what it wanted. Overcast, sunny, snowy, foggy, windy, calm, dry loose, wet loose roller balls, small wind slabs, supportable melt freeze crust, rain/rime crust. Mushy powder and glopped skins on December 20th.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
1"
New Snow Density
High
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Melt-Freeze Crust
Rain-Rime Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
Travel today included all aspects N-E-S-W at elevations ranging from 10,500' to 8600'. Southerly facing terrain was a supportable crust with new snow on top, while north-east-west facing above 9,000' was good skiing with about an inch of new snow. Throughout the day the clouds were in and out and north facing low angle terrain seemed to have some greenhousing going on with skin glopping on December 20th.
Cloudy skies in BCC and clearing skies in LCC were similar to what we saw throughout the day.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Normal Caution
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
Today was an overall Low danger day. It is still a time when I am choosing to ski terrain one-at-a-time and very aware of where I am on the slope when waiting for ski partners. The PWL on the ground level has started to round in many places and surface instabilities at higher elevations were non-existent where we traveled.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
Smallest wind-drifted snow pocket on a north facing slope at 10.200'.
Snow Profile
Aspect
Southeast
Elevation
9,500'
Comments
Snow structure in a southeast facing snowpit in Day's fork at 9500' was made up of 2 distinctive melt freeze crusts with moist rounded facets in between the layers. Height of snow was 38cm (14"). On the surface was an inch of so of very dense new snow that was melting quickly. This is similar to the structure we found on west facing slopes at a similar elevation.
East facing slope at 10,360' had more snow and previous wind loading. Facets near and just above the ground were rounding. Compression test results in the moderate range @95cm (37") but not repeatable. Layer of greatest concern is the fist hard rounding facets from the ground level to 25cm (10") off the ground.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Low
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Low
Coordinates