February 9

Alta, Grizzly Gulch, Silver Fork, Days Fork

Elevations, slope angles and aspects

7500-10500', angles over 35°, all aspects.

Snow conditions

There was an inch or so of new snow over several inches settled. Snow showers all day added a trace. No riming observed.

New snow was well behaved with only minor sluffing. Much of it had a slight wind skin cap which didn't make any difference.

Scouring on windward and bed surfaces of older slides have occasional slick surfaces from recent faceting.

No buried surface hoar was observed.

Weather

Overcast to foggy skies with snow flurries. Moderate temperatures and light wind from the northwest along the ridges.

Snow pit

silver-fork-snow-profile

In an attempt to get a good sample the pit was done at a lower elevation, out of the wind.

Representative?

Avalanche activity

Adding to the list of slides.

ebowl

East bowl of Silver fork ran during the January storm.

two-dogs

Two dogs in upper Days fork, impressive from an up close view.

main

Main Days, parameters unknown, ran during the storm.

Evaluation

Mostly stable snow was found in areas traveled.

Future instability would be from new snow, wind and or warming.

Possible concern with old slide paths, currently covered with a few inches of new and recrystallized snow, over hard bed surfaces. Missing is the slab.

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