Observation: Cottonwood

Observation Date
3/3/2024
Observer Name
Anna Rupper
Region
Logan » Logan River » Cottonwood
Location Name or Route
Cottonwood Canyon
Red Flags
Red Flags
Heavy Snowfall
Wind Loading
Poor Snowpack Structure
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
This weekend we observed a very windy storm, depositing a lot of snow to east facing slopes. Lots of wind loading, as well as wind scoured ridges.
Snow Profile
Aspect
Southwest
Elevation
7,800'
Comments
Spent the last weekend up Blind Hollow. Saturday morning started off with lots of graupel, winter thunderstorms, wind, and then turned into heavy snowfall in the afternoon. The storm started up again mid-morning today with heavy snowfall and more wind! Riding conditions were surfy and fun on slopes that were not affected by wind.
Wind was the most prevalent observation we had (and felt). Noticed some big cornices forming on the ridge north of Mt. Elmer, as well as general wind loading towards east facing slopes.
This morning I dug a pit at about 7800 ft, SW facing slope, not noticeably affected by wind. There was about 15 cm of new snow on top of a 3 cm crust. The layer beneath the crust instantly collapsed when I started cutting a block for a compression test. No reactivity on the other layers on a CT.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable