Derek DeBruin

Ogden » Ben Lomond » Cutler Ridge

Ben Lomond, Cutler Ridge, The Backyard

6,800'

North

35°

3.5'

500'

450'

This slide was a bit disconcerting as it was in the gully just above the bridge/creek crossing on the standard skin track for Cutler Ridge. It broke on at the top of the ridge on the west side of the Backyard, on north facing terrain. The slope at the top can get up to perhaps 35 degrees, but most of the rest of that terrain is 30 degrees or less. Depth varied from about 2' to 3.5' at the deepest, with a wide crown and path running along the entire bowl. I was surprised to note flagging and the toe of the debris pile 450 feet below on pretty gentle terrain. The crown was starting to fill in from yesterdays snow and a bit of wind, but large blocks were still evident. Photo 1: Top of the Backyard slide, dotted indicating where the crown wrapped around the gully, situated above the standard approach for all of Cutler Ridge. Photo 2: Flagging on trees near the toe of the debris pile, just skirting the up-track for the Backyard. Note the bumps in the snow surface; this is the debris pile covered with a few inches of fresh powder.