Observation: Ogden Mountains

Observation Date
3/17/2021
Observer Name
Toby Weed
Region
Ogden » Ogden Mountains
Location Name or Route
NO divide, Snowbasin Backcountry
Weather
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Weather Comments
Warm and sunny in the morning, but clouds moved in in the afternoon and there were some snow showers.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Melt-Freeze Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
snow surface was damp, even at upper elevations
Snow Profile
Aspect
North
Elevation
6,700'
Slope Angle
19°
Comments
I had a look at lots of terrain yesterday and did not see much evidence of recent avalanche activity. The danger is Low and avalanches remain unlikely. I dug down into the snow a few times in north facing terrain looking for sugary faceted snow, and I found some. At lower elevations the faceted snow near the ground is damp and the grains are rounding and the pwl gaining strength. I tried stability tests in a couple places and did not get any failures on the suspect layer.
I did find dry and loose faceted snow at upper elevations where the snow is shallow and rocks and grass sticking out of the snow surface in places. At one point, I broke through the surface crusts into sugary snow with my skis on, and I could easily poke my pole to the ground in less than two feet of loose, sugary snow.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Low
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Low