Ad
The National Forest Service Logo
icon-add Observation
Forecasts
Logan Ogden Salt Lake Provo Uintas Skyline Moab Abajos Weather Archives How to read the forecast
Observations & Avalanches
Submit Observation Observations Explorer All Observations Avalanches Fatalities Weather Place Names Map Archives
Education
Avalanche Class List UAC Class List Online Classes Resources and Tutorials Avalanche Awareness Develop Skills
Events
Store
About
Contact Who we are Core Values Staff Board of Directors Past Forecasters Sponsors Annual Reports Sign In
Blog
icon-add Observation
Donate / Join

Observation: Mendon Peak

Observation Date
2/23/2016
Observer Name
Weed
Region
Logan » Little Bear » Deep Canyon » Mendon Peak
Location Name or Route
Deep Canyon, Mendon Peak
Weather
Sky
Few
Wind Direction
North
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
stayed nice and cool with very good visibility of both valleys and of distant ranges.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Faceted Loose
Rain-Rime Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments

A few inches of nice re-crystallized or faceted snow capping a 2 to 4 cm very hard translucent rime ice-crust, a classic lemon in snow structure if buried as is.

Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Problem #1 Comments

I triggered a couple manageable, very small and shallow wind slabs at upper elevations. These 2" deep slabs were easily failing on weak snow above the prominent 2-15 rime crust.

Comments

Loose rimed and faceted surface snow...

A shallowly buried knife-hard translucent ice-crust made ascending upper elevation slopes difficult.

Rime builds into the wind. This slowly decomposing foot-long+ ice structure built on the west side of the Mendon Peak summit cairn.

A great day to be up in the Wellsville Mountain Wilderness!

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