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Observation: Mantua

Observation Date
1/22/2016
Observer Name
Kory and Bryce
Region
Ogden » Mantua
Location Name or Route
Mantua, Perry Resevoir
Weather
Sky
Few
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Nice day with a but of warming on solar aspects but no signs of wet avalanches. Winds were strong on the ridge our of the SW
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Wind Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments

Wind loading on ridges produces stiff snow but no failure on test slopes. Warming also produced no signs of Wet instability. ECTX on two ECT's shovel tilt saw ok results (see video). Snowpack is very right side in the Mantua area we dug on a NE aspect We could not find any real redflags in the snow pack. HS was 174cm.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Rapid Warming
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments

I feel that the windslabs are starting to settle with no new snow in the last 48 hours.

Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments

With new snow on the way and surface hoar on the surface in sheltered cold areas we could see some instability with new snow. We will see how the new snow bonds with the old snow surface though when it gets here.

Comments

A little Comic relief to start these videos.

ECTX and Shovel Tilt.

Video
Video

I really do not have much to say today about the snow pack we skied and stayed in NE aspects. We are still finding more signs of stability than signs of instability. I still am spooked after yesterdays large well connected avalanche in the Central Wasatch. I am worried about steep rocky NE aspects but have not seen a lot to say they are unsafe but I am still avoiding them. Sledders were getting up into steeper Rocky NE terrain with no signs of weakness.

Here are a bunch of random photos from the day.

This is the only Natural we saw today and was covered up. Looks like a cornice fall and triggered small wind popcket about a foot deep.

Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate