Observation: Chicken Hill 1/24/2012

Observer Name:

Toby

Region:

Chicken Hill
Bunch Grass
Logan River
Logan

Observation Date:

01/24/2012

Weather

Sky:

Clear

Wind Direction:

Northwest

Wind Speed:

Light

Weather Comments:

Beautiful day to be in the hills, with plenty of sunshine, mild temperatures, and very light northwest winds...

Snow Characteristics

New Snow Depth:

New Snow Density:

Medium

Snow Surface Conditions:

Powder

Snow Characteristic Comments:

We found great shallow and fast powder conditions, especially on lower angle slopes.

Red Flags

Recent Avalanches

Red Flag Comments:

We did not experience any collapses or shooting cracks, and despite the fact that a thick slab from last week's storms now sits on very weak depth hoar, all signs pointed towards a certain amount of increasing stability.. The colder temperatures appear to be solidifying the slab layer, and clearing and cold temperatures last night caused sublimation, which is helping to relax the tension in the slab.... Still playing it safe though, especially since lower angled terrain is fun with the fast fresh surface snow....

Primary Concern

Primary Concern:

Persistent Slabs

Probability:

Considerable

Aspect:

North

Northeast

East

Southeast

West

Northwest

Elevation:

High

Mid

Trend:

Less Dangerous

snow_profile_location:

Comments - Photos - Videos (group 1)

We could see evidence of extensive natural avalanche activity on White Pine Knob and Chicken Hill in Upper Bunch Grass. I've included a few pictures of large natural avalanches in the Tony Grove Area visible from the Top of Chicken Hill... These of huge hard slabs off Cornice Ridge...

Comments - Photos - Videos (group 2)

This complex of deep hard slabs is visible off Bullen Hole Peak in Upper White Pine Canyon...

Comments - Photos - Videos (group 3)

Here are some photos of the Wellsville Range taken on 1-23-2012 from West Logan..... The incoming storm produced some neat fish clouds. Notice that although natural avalanches ran in most of the major runout gullies, only a couple made it close to Maple Bench... There are many slopes that didn't slide during the recent cycle, many of these could be sitting in a balanced state...

Observed Danger Rating:

Considerable

Forecast Danger Rating:

Considerable