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Observation: Snowbasin Backcountry

Observation Date
3/13/2016
Observer Name
Bill Hunt
Region
Ogden » Snowbasin Backcountry
Location Name or Route
Snowbasin backcountry
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Wind Direction
West
Weather Comments
Some snow transport occurring at 9400'.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Dense Loose
Melt-Freeze Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
Decent snow snow on N-facing higher elevation terrain, a mixed bag on other aspects, hard crusts on E @9000'; increasingly wet below 8500', necessitating lower slope angles on the exit in the afternoon.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Rapid Warming
Red Flags Comments
Very wet snow below 8000', and may not have gotten a decent freeze yet.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wet Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
Huge glide cracks in the Toilet Bowl, around 7980', indicate the large amounts of rain and warmth we have had at that elevation. This should solidify as the storm progresses, although additional rain as this storm comes in could be a problem in the lower elevations that still have snow, which is to say, the north half of the compass, as well as E and W. The south half of the compass is pretty thin, with no snow on due S aspects below 7000'.
Comments
Photos below: Wind transport was about 1" an hour on a N aspect at 9300', judging from the accumulation in my boot trail from an hour previously. Minimal sluffing in a steep N facing entrance at 9400'. Cutting with only a bit of sluffing; staying close to the ridge. Cuts down lower were also stable with no cracking. I tend to always cut things, even when its a low hazard forecast. Getting in to another steep area, 9300 N facing; I wanted to get a bit of traffic on this area before this next storm. There's still facets and voids along the rocks here. Staying familiar with where the rocks are in this area.
Look at the size of the glide cracks in the Toilet Bowl! There is 3 feet of rock exposed in places. 7980' East facing. These areas really need a decent extended freeze. If they get more rain as this storm comes in, there could be some unusual wet slides occurring. Areas prone to glide cracks at 9000' do not show anything yet. I had to stay on lower slope angles on the exit this afternoon; 30 to 35 degree slopes showed rollerballing and pinwheels, but no pushalanching. Wetter than hoped for, difficult exit conditions.
Lastly, no snow on a SSE aspect at 7040'. Exits in shaded woods down to 6300' were still ok though.
I'm putting Low hazard for the upper elevation terrain terrain today; and the specific terrain travelled on the exit. Clearly, getting into steeper terrain below 8000' would have a higher wet slide potential.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Low
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate