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Observation: Lewis Peak Area

Observation Date
11/30/2016
Observer Name
Derek DeBruin
Region
Ogden » Lewis Peak Area
Location Name or Route
Lewis Peak," The Jagged Edge"
Weather
Sky
Broken
Wind Direction
West
Wind Speed
Calm
Weather Comments
Spent the night bivying at approx. 6300' WSW of the Lewis Peak summit, above Jumpoff Canyon, after a climb of "The Jagged Edge". Clouds moved in from the west overnight, with the sky partially obscured by morning by broken stratus layer. Winds were generally calm to light and westerly, with no visible snow transport.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Wind Crust
Melt-Freeze Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
Snowpack from the trailhead (4500') to about 4800' was patchy and melting out in spots, with hiking trails bare dirt or crusty in most places. Above 4800' to our high point at 6300', snowpack varied in depth from 10 to 25cm with boot penetration through the entire snowpack to the underlying surface. West aspects featured a thin melt/freeze crust of about 2cm thickness and generally P hardness, likely as a result of yesterday afternoon's relatively clear sky. Some minor wind drifting was evident on east aspects with snow depths of 40 to 50cm; surface wind slab was about 10cm thick and 1F hardness. A few pockets of north aspect retained powder, but the snowpack was generally characterized by a surface crust of wind or melt/freeze with underlying powder that was slowly starting to round.
Red Flags
Red Flags Comments
No red flags to note given the low elevation and shallow snowpack.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Normal Caution
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
The crusts sit atop loose, powdery snow below, but snowpack depth is shallow and the bed surface is quite rough. Lacking a significant load or bed surface, I have no serious concerns to note at the lower elevations.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate