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Observation: Mill D North

Observation Date
12/16/2024
Observer Name
Ambler
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Mill D North
Location Name or Route
Mill D North
Weather
Sky
Broken
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Warm and cloudy today. Some moderate winds and a little bit of snow transport today.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
4"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Dense Loose
Wind Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
After noon I started to notice the snow surface heating up. Particularly below ~ 8500' regardless of aspect. Plenty of exposed slopes have been wind affected
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Wind Loading
Cracking
Collapsing
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
I did not view any avalanches today. There wasn't much body to the new snow outside of wind loaded areas.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Problem #1 Comments
I had wind drifted snow failed both in the faceted old snow and within the new snow.
Snow Profile
Aspect
Northeast
Elevation
8,200'
Slope Angle
20°
Comments
Pit Highlights - Rounding basal facets, ectp2 within new snow, a meter of snow! I picked this spot to see how the wind slab acted on the weak old snow. Turned out there was weaker new snow. Some preserved stellars giving reactions under a stout wind slab.
Below 1f wind slabs shooting out cracks. On the top of E Face Reynolds and Soldier
Surface snowball
Rounding facets from bottom of snowpack
Facet snowball - damp
Video
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
Coordinates