Observation: Monte Cristo

Observation Date
1/22/2026
Observer Name
Kaufmann
Region
Ogden » Monte Cristo
Location Name or Route
Pit 22
Weather
Sky
Scattered
Wind Speed
Calm
Weather Comments
Beautiful out there today. -5C at 8500' at 14:00. High polars remained cold with relatively little wind today. Lower down, rocks had fallen onto the road from a road cut while I was out there so the sun was out to play on low solars (about 7500', steep).
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Dense Loose
Faceted Loose
Wind Crust
Melt-Freeze Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments

Mix of snow surfaces today. Mostly what you'd expect. Polars are soft and weakening, solars are sun affected, windward aspects stripped, leeward previously loaded and now reaching a happy equilibrium. Protected and previously loaded high elevation terrain yielded great turns but coverage is still thin (obviously).

Dug a pit NNW 8500' -- linked below.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
I went looking for poor structure or what will become problematic if it snows ever again... SH in isolated locations... NSF in specific locations... one can only hope our next storm comes with some energy to at least knock out one of these...
Snow Profile
Aspect
Northwest
Elevation
8,500'
Slope Angle
15°
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Low
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Low
Coordinates
Snow Pilot URL