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Observation: Oxford Peak

Observation Date
1/12/2025
Observer Name
B & J
Region
SE Idaho » Cherry Creek » Oxford Peak
Location Name or Route
Oxford Peak
Weather
Weather Comments
Wind was blowing all over the place and all of the open faces had heavy evidence of wind effect. We even saw a cool updraft pulling things up the eastern side of a large open bowl and over the ridge. Honestly the upper face of the main northwest shot was heavily wind stripped and affected as well so it wouldn’t have been as enjoyable getting down.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
We didn’t see any natural activity anywhere and while getting to and on the main ridge did not have any collapsing or immediate feedback of instability.
Comments
On the way up i pulled out the probe and shovel to see depth and look at some layers and found a very small basal layer of facets with a well consolidated slab on top. Kicked a small cornice in a spot we might want to ski later and it rolled a hundred feet or so down slope. We gained the summit ridge and had planned a potential spot to dig a pit in a representative NNW slope around 9k ft. Found our spot, got our pit results that i submitted and decided not to ski the main face given the whole slab came off with little effort
Forecaster's comments: The Oxford Peak area is not officially in the Logan Zone (on the map), but it is close, and we especially welcome observations from peoples' explorations. One way to beat the crowd is to explore new or "hard to get to" terrain.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable
Coordinates