Observation Date
3/4/2019
Observer Name
weed
Region
Logan » Logan River » Card Canyon » West Card Canyon
Location Name or Route
Up Spring Hollow, Down West Card
Weather
Sky
Broken
Wind Direction
West
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Stayed nice and chilly in the shade and during periods of cloud cover
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Dense Loose
Faceted Loose
Melt-Freeze Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
Nice supportable melt-freeze crust under 2 to 6 inches of soft recrystallized powder-like snow. Somewhat sun-affected on southerly slopes, but still pretty cold. I could get some shallow dry sluffs to run on very steep test slopes, but i saw no threat of wet activity in Spring Hollow or West Card Canyon.
Red Flags
Red Flags Comments
No red flags today...
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
I did not see any evidence of recent natural deep slab activity in the North Logan Peak or Upper West Card Areas. The snow on the west facing slopes in upper spring hollow were much more supportable than they were a few weeks ago and the snow was harder. But I could still find shallow, scoured areas with dry sugary faceted snow in the basal layers of the snowpack near the ridge top.
The weakest snow is on the surface. I found well developed and intact feathers of surface hoar and shallow soft snow capping a melt-freeze crust is getting sugary and faceted.. likely a future persistent weak layers when buried by heavy storm snow from a series of moist Pacific storms which will impact the area later in the week.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Cornice
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
I gave the large cornices along the ridge lots of room, but did not see any fresh cornice fall activity.
Comments
I found widespread surface hoar adorning snow surface on the ridge and in the starting zones of the big east facing avalanche paths in West Card Canyon.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Low
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Low
Coordinates
