Observation: Silver Fork

Observation Date
11/27/2015
Observer Name
mark white
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Silver Fork
Location Name or Route
Silver Fork
Weather
Sky
Scattered
Wind Direction
Northeast
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Cold with moderate NE winds on the ridgeline fairly calm down lower.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Wind Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments

Same six inches of cold smoke, wind crust in wind exposed terrain.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Cracking
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
NE winds were creating sensitive slabs and crossloading NE aspects. Any new wind slabs formed were sitting on week faceted snow at the ground.
Comments

Went up Grizzly Gulch and walked the ridge of Silver fork to the north facing headwall. East wind were blowing harder than expected and cross loading wind slabs in the N through NE facing paths. Got one of these new wind slabs to release in a N facing chute just before Davenport Hill, It broke out in the new snow at first then stepped down to the facets at the ground, crown was around 10 inches at the deepest part, about 30ft wide and ran about 150ft to lower angle terrain. This is steep rocky terrain and I think wind slabs in this kind of terrain should be avoided because they are resting on well developed facets at the ground. Didn't think it was significant enough to put on the avalanche page but its something to keep in the back of your mind.

Photos: The small slide I triggered, full deal, crown and debris, and some crazy lenticular clouds hanging over LCC

Hazard depends on wind, probably moderate for upper elevation steep, wind exposed terrain, low for all other areas.

Today's Observed Danger Rating
Low
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate