Observation: Monte Cristo

Observation Date

1/29/2026

Observer Name

Kaufmann

Region

Ogden » Monte Cristo

Location Name or Route

Pit 129

Weather

Sky

Scattered

Wind Speed

Light

Weather Comments

Overcast early morning yielded to progressively clearing clouds throughout the day ending with FEW at 1600. Winds came up in the afternoon (L) out of the W and SW. Very light snowfall continued sporadically throughout the day. Snow had been previously transported (last night) but was not moving around significantly today. Around 1030, air temps at the trailhead (7200') were -4C, 1cm new. Later at 1400, air temps at 8500' were the same, -4C.

Snow Characteristics

New Snow Depth

New Snow Density

Low

Snow Surface Conditions

Powder

Dense Loose

Wind Crust

Snow Characteristics Comments

Travelled a range of surfaces. Mostly wind-affected old surfaces in unsheltered terrain. Tucked away, plenty of soft snow still exists...

Encountered some wind loading in Isolated, ridgetop locations, seeming to be in the Stubborn range of things. Anecdotally -- spongy, cakey feeling.

Dug a pit in sheltered NW trees to check out what SH may have been buried / preserved below this most recent storm -- see below.

Red Flags

Wind Loading

Avalanche Problem #1

Problem

Wind Drifted Snow

Trend

Decreasing Danger

Snow Profile

Aspect

Northwest

Elevation

8,500'

Slope Angle

15°

Comments

P1: Surface conditions in protected areas

P2: Isolated ridgetop "cakey" wind slab formation

P3: Wx looking NNE

P4: Groomer snow conditions and shared user area

P5: What a snowpack to behold

Coordinates

Snow Pilot URL

https://snowpilot.org/node/79875

Learn More

Get the Training

Reading a Forecast

Help the Community

Upcoming Events

Observations & Avalanches