Observation Date
2/9/2018
Observer Name
John Mletschnig
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Days Fork
Location Name or Route
Days Fork
Weather
Sky
Few
Wind Direction
West
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
mild and breezy on ridge tops
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Faceted Loose
Wind Crust
Melt-Freeze Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
Snow surface is variable with protected snow already fairly faceted and slippery to skin through at upper elevations on protected aspects.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
I dug one pit today, did one ECT test and had full propagation on 21. It seems like skiers are just not enough weight to cause a slide. I wondered today how many more avalanches we would have had recently if there was more sled use in the cottonwoods.
No others obvious signs of instability.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Problem #1 Comments
Deep facets are still there, but largely bridged out by a stout slab on top.
Snow Profile
Aspect
East
Elevation
10,300'
Slope Angle
30°
Comments
HS 155cm. ETCP21 at 33cm on 4F- depth hoar below P hardness slab above. No moisture in facets at failure height in the snowpack; facets on ground and up 15cm were moist. Pit was at 10300,' ESE aspect. I was surprised at still how poor the snowpack looked here given the reasonable depth and it's aspect.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
Coordinates
