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Observation: South Hollow

Observation Date
2/12/2013
Observer Name
Weed
Region
Logan
Location Name or Route
South Hollow Trees
Weather
Sky
Obscured
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
Northwest
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Noted a bit of riming in the afternoon above around 8000'. Poor visibility of upper elevation terrain all day. Nice wintery weather in the old forest.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
6"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments

We found a few inches of fairly light powder on the old snow surface. Low angled slopes sported the best fast and shallow powder conditions... East facing slopes had less new snow than west and forested areas. It seems the moderate east winds toward the end of the small weekend storm kept the new snow on these slopes very shallow , around 2" of new snow only...

Red Flags
Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
We noticed no obvious signs of instability, but I found lots of areas plagued by fist-hard (still soft) sugary or faceted snow. I was not able to produce a propegating failure in my ECT tests today, but the fact that the early January facets exist less than a meter deep in the snowpack, and that they are still soft, angular, and weak is enough to keep me leaning toward the more conservative side of things when making terain related decisions.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments

No natural activity noted, no collapsing or cracking, but a look at the snow pack shows that potential is certainly still there at least in isolated, and perhaps outlying, areas.

Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments

Shallow wind slabs and cornices built with the weekend's fresh snow and the moderate northwest winds last night and today. These were small and quite manageable near the crest of Red Pine Ridge today, but probably a bit bigger in some more exposed areas.