Observation Date
2/18/2024
Observer Name
Kelly
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Silver Fork » Davenport Hill
Location Name or Route
Davenport Hill
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Precipitation
Moderate Snowfall
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Clouds in/out throughout the day with periods of heavier snow up to 1" of snow an hour. At times with increased snowfall the winds were more southeast.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
5"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments
5" settled snow on southerly aspects where you could feel the crust with your skis on some aspects. On northerly aspects ski depth penetration was closer to 12-16" and the skiing felt bottomless.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Heavy Snowfall
Wind Loading
Cracking
Collapsing
Red Flags Comments
Recent avalanche activity on southeast aspects. Some new snow avalanche activity in the top 5" of new snow where it had been slightly wind-affected. This was on steeper north-northeast facing terrain. Sensitive new cornice, but isolated to the newest 5" of snow. I couldn't find any real new snow instabilities below the 5" mark. I did feel some cracking and collapsing on easterly aspects. One of the more significant collapses occurred when I took my skis off to dig a quick pit and the slope around me settled. Cracking occurred in the wind-loaded snow on top of the melt-freeze crust while ascending the ridge.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
Over the last few days we have seen a number of avalanches on easterly aspects. Many of these avalanches are failing on small grained facets above a melt-freeze crust. Drew noted this layer in Upper BCC on the
16th of February and Greg went looking for it and did not find it near
Ben Lomond on the 18th , but I did see an avalanche triggered on this layer in
Hells Canyon on the 18th. Dig down to see if you can find the slight crust before committing to steeper slopes as it won't be everywhere and if it has a slab on top of it you may trigger an avalanche on this layer from a distance.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Same
Snow Profile
Aspect
Southeast
Elevation
10,000'
Slope Angle
20°
Comments
Snowpit dug adjacent to an
avalanche reported on February 17th. The pit location was a lower slope angle with less wind loading. There was a slight melt-freeze crust with small grained broken stellars with sharp edges above the crust 4" below the surface in this location. In other locations (see photo below) the melt-freeze crust with facets above was closer to 12-16" below the surface where it had been wind-loaded. As things currently stand I think that to get an avalanche on this layer you need higher slope angles and some factor creating a denser slab (wind, sun, more snow) above the facets associated with a crust.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
None
Coordinates
