Observation: Powder Mountain Backcountry 2/10/2012

Observer Name:

orum/pollick

Region:

Ogden
Powder Mountain Backcountry

Observation Date:

02/10/2012

Location or Route:

powder mtn periphery backyard

Weather

Sky:

Overcast

Precipitation:

Light Snowfall

Wind Direction:

Southwest

Wind Speed:

Light

Weather Comments:

overcast with light snow in the morning, then partly cloudy and warming in the afternoon.

Snow Characteristics

New Snow Depth:

New Snow Density:

Low

Snow Surface Conditions:

Powder

Faceted Loose

Rain-Rime Crust

Damp

Snow Characteristic Comments:

riming in the morning. NSF a few inches below the surface. 30 minutes after the sun came out we were getting roller balls below 8200'

Red Flags

Rapid Warming

Red Flag Comments:

rapid warming with only 30 min. of sun. Producing roller balls and point releases some entraining a fair amout of snow on west aspects. More like March.

Primary Concern

Primary Concern:

Persistent Slabs

Aspect:

North

Northeast

West

Northwest

Elevation:

High

Mid

Trend:

Same

Primary Concern Comments:

#1 at 8830' 33 deg. west aspect 100 cm snow CTM11Q1 AT 30cm 4mm facts fist ECTP8Q1 AT 30cm. no real change since 2/4/2012 obs.

#2 8650' WNW ECTX AND ECTP21Q1 AT 30cm 4F 4mm facets

#3 8740' 37deg slide path releasing in January 70cm depth NNW CTM18Q1 AT 25cm facets. ECTX

#4 8440' NNW THIS BOWL ALSO RELEASED IN JANUARY CTM17Q1 AT 30cm fist 4mm facets. ECTP18Q1 SAME. DID BURP TEST/SHOVEL TILT PRODUCING A Q1 SHEAR ON 1mm NSF 15cm down. Also appears to be SH MIXED WITH NSF 5cm from the surface. All could be players if we get some decent amouts of snow.

Basically from one bowl to the next it is pretty comparable. The name of the game was terrain management to get some decent turns in.

snow_profile_location:

Comments - Photos - Videos (group 1)

RIME

Video 1:

Comments - Photos - Videos (group 2)

backyard obs

Video 2:

Comments - Photos - Videos (group 3)

burp/shovel tilt test

Observed Danger Rating:

Moderate

Forecast Danger Rating:

Moderate