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Observation: North Ogden Divide

Observation Date
1/8/2020
Observer Name
Staples, Dressel
Region
Ogden » North Ogden Canyon » North Ogden Divide
Location Name or Route
North Side - North Ogden Divide
Snow Characteristics
Snow Characteristics Comments
Thick, hard ice crust under a few inches of new snow on south aspects. Difficult traversing on skis because the crust was so hard. Crust existed on east as well but not as hard.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Problem #1 Comments
Overall the main problem to watch for seemed to be slabs of wind drifted snow. On southerly aspects, the new snow hadn't bonded to the crust yet and fresh wind slabs should fracture easily on top of today's snow on the crust.
Comments
Route was up south-facing slopes, looked at north, and descended east-facing to the road. Elevations were 6200 feet to 7000 feet.
What was most surprising was a layer of old stellar crystals with some faceting found about 14 inches down (37 cm). This was the old snow surface just prior to New Years. See Doug Wewer's obs from 12/30 and 12/31. This layer propagated a crack repeatedly on a sheltered north facing slope (ECTP15).
This layer of very low density snow that weakened (aka faceted) during cold weather between Christmas and New Years produced avalanches of wind drifted snow following the New Year's Storm.
The clouds were stuck over the mountains today with partly cloudy skies over Ogden and the Ogden Valley.
Danger was low where we were which just had great powder and no effects from the wind.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Low
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Low
Coordinates