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Observation: Cutler Ridge

Observation Date
2/8/2020
Observer Name
Derek DeBruin
Region
Ogden » Ben Lomond » Cutler Ridge
Location Name or Route
Ben Lomond, Cutler Ridge
Weather
Weather Comments
Blue bird initially, with clouds starting to develop around 9am. Warm at the trailhead (28F) at 8am, with temps markedly decreasing as the next storm arrived around noon. At this time, winds also shifted from SW to NW flow, battling briefly for primacy near the summits of Ben Lomond and Willard. The first few hours were more bark than bite with plenty of bluster and wind, but little precip. By around 2pm, precip had worked it's way down from the upper to the mid elevations, and was finally spitting just a bit of snow at the trailhead by about 4pm. If I were betting, I'd say this storm comes in on the low side and we only pick up about 2" of snow.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Wind Crust
Rain-Rime Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
They say there's no such thing as bad snow. Consequently, if I had to characterize today's snow conditions, they'd fall somewhere between the shady side of average and "ungood." The snow was certainly in the running for least best day of skiing I've had in recent memory.
Rain crust was quite substantial at lower elevations, easily an inch or more thick, reducing in thickness with increasing elevation, but still present as high as about 8000ft. At that elevation the crust was far from supportable, and also featured the vestiges of snow from yesterday, implying initially high rain at least up to 8000ft that turned to snow as the temperature crashed, somewhere down to about 7000ft. Below this elevation it was simple rain crust. Luckily, the few seemingly sheltered locations (mostly in the trees) where the rain crust was not so severe featured a wind crust instead.
I can't imagine the situation was much different on the Rodeo Ridge, off the Divide, or elsewhere. If I had my heart set on finding good backcountry riding on Sunday, it would probably feature a road trip. Otherwise, groomers, the climbing gym, and a hot tub seems like the way to go.
Red Flags
Red Flags Comments
Not much to note. With clear skies and good light at the trailhead this morning, we turned an eye toward the mid and upper elevation terrain and did not note any natural avalanches from the recent upside down weather system. There appeared to be some additional cornice growth along the Chilly Peak ridgeline and in Bailey's.
Comments
N facing pit at 7800ft pictured below (HS at this location 175cm). Found the surface crust with a skiff of snow on top. About 20cm down was an additional crust, the old surface below Monday's (20200203) powder. More or less right side up below this progressing to 1F hardness. Interestingly, at 140cm depth, I found 4F facets with some rounding. Not sure what to make of that.
An intial shovel shear showed decent bonding with no clear sliding. Also found CT14 Q2 20cm down and ECTN21 20cm down. Seems like the old interface at the crust may need a bit more time to bond, but results were a bit mixed and no propagation. Various hand pits and hand shears in other locations seemed to support this as well. Crust 20cm down is probably worth keeping an eye on for facet growth particularly with incoming cold air.
Surface riding conditions with evident crust.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate