Observation: Wolf Creek 2/4/2012

Observer Name:

orum/pollick

Observation Date:

02/04/2012

Region:

Ogden
Powder Mountain Backcountry
Wolf Creek

Location or Route:

wolf creek

Weather

Sky:

Broken

Wind Direction:

East

Wind Speed:

Light

Weather Comments:

light wind out of the E moving some snow

Snow Characteristics

Snow Surface Conditions:

Powder

Dense Loose

Wind Crust

Snow Characteristic Comments:

traveled on NW and W aspects doing stability tests. No collapsing. Made one wind drift crack out not going anywhere. Just below ridge top very rounded and drum like from wind loading yesterday, very suspect above steep slopes. ALSO OF NOTE we found buried surface hoar on facets at 8850' on a north aspect.

Red Flags

Wind Loading

Cracking

Red Flag Comments:

scoured south slopes and loaded W and NW slopes.

Primary Concern

Primary Concern:

Persistent Slabs

Probability:

Moderate

Aspect:

West

Northwest

Elevation:

High

Mid

Trend:

Same

Primary Concern Comments:

Tests showed Moderate danger with high consequences. All tests were between 8950' and 8850'. First one was a west slope that released at the end of the large storm. It has since reloaded:

#1 Depth 82cm 33 deg. CTM14Q2+ ON FACETS AT 30cm ECTX

#2 WNW DEPTH 145cm 33 DEG. CTH22Q2+ ON FACETS BELOW A MELT/FREEZE CRUST THERE WERE 45cm TOTAL FACETS. ECTP26Q2 MELT/FREEZE CRUST

#3 NW SLOPE THIS ONE IS WHERE IT WAS EXTREMELY WIND LOADED ON LOW ANGLE ABOVE ROLLOVER GAVE US a CTV FAILING ON BACKCUT.

Secondary Concern

Secondary Concern:

Wind Slabs

Probability:

Considerable

Aspect:

West

Northwest

Elevation:

High

Trend:

Same

Secondary Concern Comments:

WILL LESSEN OVER THE NEXT COUPLE DAYS

snow_profile_location:

Observed Danger Rating:

Moderate

Forecast Danger Rating:

Moderate