Sign Up for the Utah Snow and Avalanche Workshop (USAW) on December 7th!

Observation: Cutler Ridge

Observation Date
3/3/2023
Observer Name
Meisenheimer / Hill
Region
Ogden » Ben Lomond » Cutler Ridge
Location Name or Route
Cutler Ridge
Weather
Sky
Few
Wind Speed
Calm
Weather Comments
The day started with beautiful sunshine and warm temps. At about 1:00 pm high thin clouds were present, and the light became flat. Light winds.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
6'
New Snow Density
High
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Melt-Freeze Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
Yesterday's strong morning sunshine heated the solar aspects enough that a crust will now be present. Warming temperatures (it's March) heated the lower elevations sufficiently that by the time we exited, the lower elevations had a thin zipper crust. Otherwise, there was very surfy dense snow on the surface, and the riding and turning conditions were fast and fun.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Heavy Snowfall
Wind Loading
Rapid Warming
Red Flags Comments
The recent avalanches on the headwall showed us that at some point during the storm, the new snow was unstable
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Problem #1 Comments
I would imagine there are some stout hard wind slabs dotted across the upper elevation terrain that are rapidly stabilizing. However, it's hard when it just keeps snowing to say things are perfectly stable up there. I would give the upper starting zones a MODERATE avalanche danger for wind-drifted snow. Out of the wind we found very stable right side up snow that increased in hand hardness from fist to pencil. My probe is 3 meters and you can see even at 6,800' the Ogden mountains are deep.
Comments
The red line in my photo represents what we think is the old snow / new snow interface.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
Coordinates