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Observation: Days Draw

Observation Date
3/13/2024
Observer Name
Zimmerman-Wall
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Days Fork » Days Draw
Location Name or Route
Days Draw
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Precipitation
Moderate Snowfall
Wind Direction
Northwest
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Departed Spruces at 10am under broken skies with some sun and blue sky. This was short lived and by 11 the sky was completely overcast and it was snowing lightly. Precip intensity increased throughout the day with up to 1-2cm/hour snowfall for short bursts. Total snowfall observed from 10am to 2pm was 5cm or less. Winds were well behaved with a few rogue gusts along the ridgeline in the upper teens. Temps were cold.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
15"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments
Storm snow was slow to settle but had good body to it. At trailhead the depth of new snow was 10cm, with depths increasing as we went up drainage. Pockets of terrain held upwards of 40cm in favored areas of upper days fork. Surface conditions were very good to excellent.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Heavy Snowfall
Red Flags Comments
Lots of evidence of natural activity within the new snow.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
All the way up the drainage there was evidence of storm slab and loose dry avalanches. These appeared to have run overnight/early morning. However, with high PI rates mid day, some small loose dry avalanches were occuring on steep slopes. Slope angle was key and any small convexity over 35 degrees had released. Some of these soft storm slabs ran quite far and piled up 50-60cm deep.
Comments
Photos:
1. Lower Days Fork storm slab 10cm deep running on temperature crust on West facing terrain feature
2. Days Draw Approach knoll with 15cm deep storm slab
3. Days Draw mid run gully on skiers left with 20cm deep storm slab propogating quiete far
4. Days Draw/CSR north facing walls had released and run quite far. This was the case all the way up our ascent route.
5. Days Draw entrance. Lower down on this run a member of party released a small storm slab pocket 20' wide by 20cm deep that broke apart quikly and didn't run very far.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
None
Coordinates