Obs-Snow Profile: Ogden 11/22/2011

Observer Name:

Evelyn

Observation Date:

11/22/2011

Region:

Ogden

Weather

Sky:

Clear

Wind Speed:

Calm

Weather Comments:

Beautiful lighting.

Snow Characteristics

New Snow Depth:

New Snow Density:

High

Snow Surface Conditions:

Dense Loose

Snow Characteristic Comments:

Turning and riding conditions are excellent in the dense, highly rimed surface snow from the past two storms. Of course, with the shallow snow pack, you need to be on slopes with very smooth ground beneath, and plan your exit well.

Primary Concern

Primary Concern:

Persistent Slabs

Aspect:

North

Northeast

Northwest

Elevation:

High

Trend:

Same

Primary Concern Comments:

I was curious to see if there were faceted weak layers near the ground in the Ogden area mountains, and if so at what elevations. I looked at mainly northerly facing slopes from about 9,000' down to where the facets disappeared around 8,000'.

Elevation:

9000'

Aspect:

North

snow_profile_location:

Comments - Photos - Videos (group 1)

A photo of the above profile location. Red arrow is the failure plane of the ECT. A snappy, clean full propagation, but it didn't quite leap off the bed surface. (ECT 12, Q 1.5) With the ice and facet layers so thin and near the ground, I'm sure there are areas where they aren't continuous across the terrain. But I definitely stayed off the steep, northerly facing slopes - test results and structure make it "NO GO" terrain for me. I suspect these layers will become active when loaded with more snow.

Comments - Photos - Videos (group 2)

Profile from north facing, 8,500'. Here the lower ice layer is missing, but the facets on the ground are well developed and very weak. Solid Q1 results here, with block dropping into the pit. (ECT 12, Q1 times 2) Again, a shallow, weak layer near the ground may not be continuous, but I expect tricky pockets are going to be out there, especially with additional loading.

On an 8,000', northerly facing slope, no old faceted snow remained.