Observation: Swan Peak 2/6/2012

Observer Name: 
Toby Weed
Region: 
Swan Peak
Garden City Canyon
Bear Lake
Logan
Observation Date: 
02/06/2012
Weather
Sky: 
Clear
Wind Direction: 
Southeast
Wind Speed: 
Light

Snow Characteristics

Snow Surface Conditions: 
Faceted Loose
Snow Characteristic Comments: 

Very weak, small grained faceted snow noted in the upper 5 to 15 cms of the snowpack on all aspects... in sunnier areas there is a thin sun-crust capping the sugary grains...

Red Flags

Red Flag Comments: 

Noted no red flags, but snow structure is poor....  Limp slab capping fist-hard facets in all areas with snow cover prior to mid January storms...   There was still evidence of numerous natural or remote triggered avalanches from the big cycle (1-20/21-2012,) especially on lower knobs and in open meadows near the bottom of Garden City Canyon.   Crowns and debris are still quite apparent and only have a few inches of settled accumulated snow on them since the event....

Primary Concern

Primary Concern: 
Deep Slabs
Probability: 
Moderate
Aspect: 
North
Northeast
East
West
Northwest
Elevation: 
High
Mid
Trend: 
Less Dangerous
snow_profile_location: 
Comments - Photos - Videos (group 1)

Interestingly, feathery surface hoar crystals were more developed at upper elevations and on both sides of the ridge lines (on both east and west facing slopes...)  Some beautiful observed crystals were about the size of a quarter....

IMG_1959edit.jpg
IMG_1957edit.jpg
Printer-friendly version
Comments - Photos - Videos (group 2)

The snow on west facing slopes is still quite shallow, especially near ridge tops, and you can easily damage equipment or be injured by unexpected encounters with shallowly buried rocks....

Observed Danger Rating: 
Moderate
Forecast Danger Rating: 
Moderate

Site Built by Dharmatech
Site Refresh by Flint Creative