Observation: Powder Mountain Backcountry 1/31/2012

Observer Name:

orum/kuhnly

Region:

Ogden
Powder Mountain Backcountry

Observation Date:

01/31/2012

Location or Route:

powder mtn periphery east

Weather

Sky:

Clear

Weather Comments:

PERFECT WEATHER!

Took 4 guests on a ski tour and all had a safe and enjoyable ski.

Snow Characteristics

Snow Surface Conditions:

Powder

Dense Loose

Wind Crust

Melt-Freeze Crust

Snow Characteristic Comments:

crusted in lower sun exposed areas. fast riding conditions. LOW ANGLE LOVE

Red Flags

Recent Avalanches

Collapsing

Red Flag Comments:

Only had one collapse on a north slope in the trees. Noted a few old slides that have started back filling. These were on NE and an E slopes mid elevation mid slope. First one on a break over and the other in a narrow open area. Both of these generally do not get wind loaded. Both were hard slabs by looking at the debris.

TESTS: CTE5Q1 AND ECT14Q1 ON THE FACETS NORTH SLOPE AT 8400' . ANOTHER AREA AT 8100' CTM10Q1 FACETS BUT THE EXTEDNDED COLUMN PRODUCED ECTX. Trying to lull you into a sense of safety but its a trick!!

Primary Concern

Primary Concern:

Deep Slabs

Probability:

Considerable

Aspect:

North

Northeast

East

Southeast

West

Northwest

Elevation:

High

Mid

Trend:

Same

Primary Concern Comments:

Tricky deep slabs. Now they are starting to bridge but the FACETS are just as weak today as they were 2 weeks ago. YIKES!

snow_profile_location:

Observed Danger Rating:

Considerable

Forecast Danger Rating:

Considerable