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Observation: Silver/Days

Observation Date
11/29/2024
Observer Name
Grainger, Kelly, Kapacinkas
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Silver/Days
Location Name or Route
Days/Silver Fork
Weather
Sky
Clear
Wind Speed
Calm
Weather Comments
Clear, high pressure, very stellar weather for being in the mountains. Unfortunately diurnal temperature fluctuation has started the faceting process for surface snow and the next week will likely significantly weaken what is on the ground, particularly on polar aspects. Temperatures were 17 °F.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Characteristics Comments
North facing slopes were soft snow with some recent surface faceting. Southerly aspects were firm in the morning and softened up in the afternoon. Still lots of summer surface and wildflowers showing through.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Poor Snowpack Structure
Snow Profile
Elevation
10,100'
Comments
We went out with the intention to look at 2 avalanches, Two Dogs (November 28th), Davenport Hill (November 27th), and stumbled across a third, Silver Fork Headwall (November 29th). The similarities were that all of these avalanches were on north facing slopes and failed on facets. The Davenport Hill slide was a repeater avalanche that had a much thinner crown. The Two Dogs avalanche involved crusts and wind slab and was stiffer than the other 2 avalanches. The Silver Fork Headwall avalanche had no crusts or wind drifted snow in the crown profile.
The crown profiles are below:
Video
Video of extended column test with failure and propagation while cutting Two Dogs avalanche crown profile.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
Coordinates