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Observation: Days Fork

Observation Date
1/28/2024
Observer Name
Gagne
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Days Fork
Location Name or Route
Days Fork from Spruces
Weather
Sky
Scattered
Weather Comments
Uncomfortably warm for January.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Dense Loose
Melt-Freeze Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
All but upper elevation northerly aspects took on heat today.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Rapid Warming
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Biggest red flag is the rapid warming.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wet Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
Warm temperatures, sunshine, and some greenhousing dampened all snow surfaces other than upper elevation north aspects. Wet snow may be an issue for the next few days with another 3+ days of warm temperatures forecast, including northerly aspects at lower elevations where there is a thinner, faceted snowpack.
Photos:
- East aspect in upper Days Fork
-
Banana Belt living up to its name with rollerballs on east aspects.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
The snowpack in Days Fork looks solid with a deep snowpack with a strong slab on top of strengthening facets. The only pit I dug today was at 8,000' on a West aspect (but given how it is shaded, behaves more northerly). This was a thinner snowpack area with a 75 cm slab on top of 50 cms of facets. The slab goes from F -> 4F -> 1F. The facets are damp and 4F hard. ECTP27, failing in the facets. This is consistent with expectations as we slowly move out of a PWL problem that thinner snowpack areas will be the weakest and most susceptible to avalanches. With this weak layer of facets and warm temperatures the next several days, north aspects at low elevations may become active this week.
Comments
Overall, a strong-looking snowpack in Days Fork. My goals for today were
1. Look at low elevations with a thinner snowpack.
Discussed above.
2. Measure snow depths at low/mid/upper elevations.
8,000' : 80-120 cms
Mid elevations: 120-160 cms
Upper elevations: 150 - 250 cms
Overall, a deep snowpack.
3. See what terrain people are beginning to get into.
Many steep lines are beginning to get skied. Although tracks on a slope with a PWL are not an indication of stability, the numerous tracks and stronger snowpack seem to align that we continue moving towards greater stability.
I found some near-surface facets (NSF) - and even some surface hoar - on upper elevation northerly aspects (photo below). Warm temperatures this week should prevent weak snow from forming at the surface, but the NSF may be preserved on upper elevation north aspects ahead of what we hope is more snow late this coming week.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
Coordinates