Observation Date
1/23/2016
Observer Name
Bill Brandt
Region
Ogden » Ben Lomond » Cutler Ridge
Location Name or Route
Cutler Ridge to Skyline trail
Weather
Sky
Broken
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Light winds today early. Yesterdays winds were strong and unpleasant. Above the weather station it seemed like the slope eroded in front of me while skinning over a couple hundred yards. Today was comparatively pleasant. Early afternoon the wind gusted strongly for a short time skinning back up to Cutler Ridge. The storm appeared to have arrived and then it quit mid afternoon.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Dense Loose
Wind Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
Nice dense powder noted below 7500 ft and on wind sheltered north faces. Upper elevations to 8600 ft. were wind compacted (wind buff as a friend likes to say) but skied smoothly to my surprise. Wind pillows were stout and nonreactive to ski cuts. The main ridge on Cutler was scoured to old crusts. Sastrugi makes the skiing a challenge.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Red Flags Comments
I haven't noticed much avalanche activity in the Chilly peak-Ben Lomond area in the last week. The reported activity on Ben Lomond from winds earlier in the week was no longer visable. All the avalanche activity across the Wasatch sure got my attention from this past week.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
Skinned across some hard and hollow feeling wind pillows where Cutler meets the Ben Lo shoulder without cracking or collapsing. Not willing to ski steep slopes with these pillows on top. Not worth the risk.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
Less and less of a problem at least in areas with 200 cm. plus of snow pack.
Snow Profile
Aspect
North
Elevation
8,600'
Slope Angle
36°
Comments
Snow pit depth 200 cm. Sheared a layer about 14 inches below surface which didn't fail on ECT. Appeared to be a layer of buried surface hoar. ECTN 23 Q3. Pictures didn't turn out. Nice consistent equitemperature pack below that to the ground. Hoping the warm temps are healing the pack. Observed danger rating mostly moderate where I skied. I think you could easily venture into terrain nearby that would be considerable. Steeper, more wind loaded or higher elevation. Tomorrow's rating considerable to high dependent on new snow amounts and wind.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable
