Observation Date
12/20/2013
Observer Name
Weed, M. Ward
Region
Logan » Left Hand Fork-Blacksmith Fork » Richards Hollow » Whites Bedground Area
Location Name or Route
White's Bedground---Red Pine Ridge
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
West
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Cold and wintry. West winds stayed fairly light occasionally gusting into low moderate range.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
6"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments
Fairly light new snow, with little evidence of drifting. You still drop into very weak faceted snow going up and down even on fat skis. I kept the sled on the packed trail for fear of getting stuck in loose facets or hitting shallowly buried rocks...
Red Flags
Red Flags
Cracking
Collapsing
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Widespread subtle collapsing. Hardly audible, but could watch cone flowers shake up to around 40' away with the collapses. A few were louder and more obvious. We stayed in lower angled terrain (less than 35 degree slope angles) but triggered numerous instances of extensive spiderwebing shooting cracks, in some cases instantaniously shattering the entire slope below or adjacent to us with small horizontal cracks. Some of these propagated as far as we could see 100+' (probably farther). These were at least a foot deep, originating in very weak faceted snow well under the new snow. It felt like we would have triggered avalanches in steeper terrain.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
Widespread very week faceted snow in the zone, and significant persistent slab avalanches appear inevitable.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
There was lots of light snow in fetch areas, and it won't take much wind for substantial drifting to occur.
Comments
We triggered widespread and extensive shooting cracks, these were around a foot deep and a few times instantly shattered the entire slope below or adjacent to us. We were in low angled terrain, so did not trigger any avalanches. Had the slopes been steeper they likely would have avalanched.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable
