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Observation: Hunters Cave

Observation Date
12/7/2012
Observer Name
Toby Weed
Region
Logan
Location Name or Route
Hunters Cave
Weather
Sky
Broken
Wind Direction
West
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Nice and cold, even winter-like at upper elevations.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
4"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Wind Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
Good smooth and fast shallow powder conditions. Snow somewhat wind affected in exposed terrain and a bit better in more sheltered areas. We found fairly good snow on south, east, and north facing slopes. NSF and small SH apparent.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Cracking
Red Flags Comments
We noted a fair amount of drifting along the ridges and some fresh drifts. Wind slabs easily cracking up to around 6" in drifted snow failing on a very thin layer with both graupel and SH visible, often on isolation with ski pole or hand pit tests and ECTPs with <10 taps from the wrist in test pits....
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
Sensitive shallow wind slabs building in exposed terrain, a very manageable problem today, but becoming more widespread above 8500'
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #2 Comments
No natural or triggered activity of this type observed. Probably still potential in places where wind slabs formed on weak faceted snow, but I'm not actually seeing much evidence of this problem in the Central Bear River Range.
Comments
We noted localized cracking in the top few inches of drifted snow in terrain exposed to the sustained west winds...
With around 3.5 inches of water equivalent and sustained south and west winds since the beginning of December, the bony upper elevation slopes are well covered, and we didn't hit rocks on slopes that you would't even have wanted to try a few days ago...
Thanks to Mimi and Darren for today's photos... We helped to dig out a couple vehicles that got pretty stuck in the couple feet of drifted snow up at the Tony Grove Lake parking lot. If you are towing a trailer or are concerned about low clearance you should consider parking lower down.