Join us for the 17th Annual Professional Snow and Avalanche Workshop (PROSAW) on November 4 - Purchase tickets here!

Observation: Providence Canyon

Observation Date
1/28/2021
Observer Name
weed
Region
Logan » Providence Canyon
Location Name or Route
Providence Canyon
Weather
Sky
Broken
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Strong
Weather Comments
Mild temperatures but quite windy. Observed a fair amount of drifting snow.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
Shallow powder conditions up high, with many drifts up to about 2' deep, damp surface snow down lower.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Wind Loading
Rapid Warming
Poor Snowpack Structure
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
There was evidence of several recent natural avalanches of wind drifted snow, blown in avalanche crowns and decent sized piles of debris.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wet Snow
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
Noted mild temperatures and some small natural loose wet avalanches and lots of fresh roller balls down near the quarry.
Snow Profile
Aspect
Southeast
Elevation
8,000'
Slope Angle
22°
Comments
I stayed in the flats and near the warming hut since I did not want to venture into avalanche terrain. From below, I observed several recent natural avalanches consisting of wind drifted snow. These were not huge but would be classified (destructive force) as a 2 out of 5. There were somewhat pockety avalanches on most steep slopes in the area, mostly around 1' deep and 30 to 70' wide. One was about 200' wide and 1 to 2 feet deep, and a couple looked like they probably stepped down a couple feet into older, faceted snow.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable