Snowpack

Observation: Silver Fork

Greg Gagne / Erme CatinoSalt Lake
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Quick report

Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure

It's getting harder to trigger a PWL avalanche, and it is more probable in an area that has a stronger slab on top of the weak facets. Over the past several days most of my pits have been ECTN - no propagation and just crumbled on the weak snow. But today we got a ECTP10 (video below) where there was a strong 1F slab on top of the facets. This strong slab is likely the result on strong SE winds this past week.

Discussion of assigning a danger rating to the current PWL problem.

Snowpack

Instability Comment
<p>Mostly concerned about the PWL problem in areas that have a stronger slab on top, especially on upper elevation aspects facing north through east that were loaded from a few stong wind events this past week.</p>

HS in Silver Fork ranges from 45-90 cms. Fortunately the current snowpack has supportable structure making travel possible as well as well as good ski conditions on lower-angled slopes.