Manto nevoso

Observation: Mineral Fork

Bo Torrey, Cal HawleySalt Lake
Vedi sulla mappa

Quick report

Red Flags
Recent Avalanches, Heavy Snowfall

Travel today was from Alta to Days Fork- Cardiff Fork- Mineral fork. Snow totals ranged from 18"-30". Snow was unreactive during our travels. We skied into a number of wind pillows expecting them to fracture but all stayed in place. Long running sluff in steeper terrain.

We noticed a recently skier triggered avalanche in Mineral Fork on GB NO and went to have a look. It was about 16" deep propagating 100' down slope, 150' wide, and running about 500' before fanning out on a lower angle slope. Ski tracks in, and ski tracks out. Weak layer was a mix of graupel and rimed precipitation particles 45 cm below the surface.

Snowpack

Instability Comment
<p>Density inversion within the new snow was easy to slide in hand pits but very limited evidence of avalanching in most areas during our travels today. </p>

Upside down snow in most areas topped off with a few lighter density inches of snow 18"-30"