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Observation: Snowbasin Backcountry

Observation Date
2/11/2016
Observer Name
Bill Hunt
Region
Ogden » Snowbasin Backcountry
Location Name or Route
Snowbasin backcountry
Weather
Sky
Few
Wind Direction
West
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Beautiful day out. Moderate gusts on the ridges. Easy to overheat when hiking.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Dense Loose
Faceted Loose
Rain-Rime Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
Travel was restricted to upper elevation north facing 9300' to 8500', rather hard snow above 9000' which was more wind+rime affected recently. Below 9000' was generally soft dense settled powder, in the trees a denser ice-rime layer has fallen from the trees the past few days. The most wind-affected areas had some hard wind+rime crusts in the lower areas travelled as well, with a bit of wind transport over them.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Rapid Warming
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
The windslab where I was seemed quite settled in and not responsive to cuts over the past few days. I was not on the highest ridges though; there could still be triggerable pockets above 9000', especially in thinner coverage over steep rock slabs, or if pushing into steeper lines above 40 degrees. I chose upper elevation north facing to avoid the wet snow issues; clearly on most other aspects and elevations, the heat of the day can cause issues. Structure can still be poor in rocky areas. Had to reroute to avoid a large void while ascending a rocky area. Thin coverage over steep rock slabs could be suspect.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wet Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
Midday temps following the sun could see pushalanche and wet slide issues.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Cornice
Trend
Same
Problem #2 Comments
Some interesting cornices out there; normal caution (avoidance) should serve. I am inclined to leave them until we have a few more feet of snow; then they could be useful for cornice drop tests.
Comments
Below, cuts along this ridge have not found any movement for the past couple days. Last week, an example of a lower slope angle forest (generally below 34 degrees in this area), where all the branches are still present on the trees. That is a sign of a safer area.
Today, now that things have settled out quite a bit, in a steeper forest that is a much more active slidepath, note the lack of branches on the trees, and piles of old debris on the uphill side of all the trees. Old fractures are visible in this area, somewhat filled back in from the past couple storm cycles. The snow surface is old ice rime that has fallen from the trees over the past week. This fallen rime was ice-cube-like a couple days ago. It has lightened up, but it still is a nice dense irregular surface for new snow to bond to. We shall see how much more it changes during the high pressure. Areas open to the sky have more surface facets, although they aren't preserved much if any sun hits them.
Back on Feb 5, note the heavy rime on the trees, at around 9200'. The snowpack was also more impacted by rime clouds above 9000', less so down to around 8000'. Note the heavier rime on the trees above 8000' in this photo from the 6th. The top of the Pyramids is around 8000'.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate