Observation: American Fork

Travels today include a ride from Snake Creek and a ski tour in upper American Fork. At the trailhead (6,800) the precipitation was just barely snow - as of 0840. The new snow observed under track and foot was dense, but not necessarily wet. The big change, as mentioned above, came at around 1230, at which point the new snow was easily entrained by a pole drag test, and noticibly more wet.

In a snowpit, poor strucutre revealed itself, though the strength of the slab, and the depth of the weak snow likely rendered this ECT unremarkable. Regardless, a shovel pry from behind the column revealed not only how poor the structure is, but also how absolutely meaty the slab is. Attached is a photo of a 180lb observer making but a dent in the fallen, still intact column.

Snow began as dense, rimed snow, and became heavy and wet as a result of apparent greenhousing beginning around 1230.