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Observation: Powder Mountain Backcountry

Observation Date
12/13/2012
Observer Name
orum/kuhnly
Region
Ogden
Location Name or Route
powder mtn periphery
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Strong
Weather Comments
Strong winds out of SW moving alot of snow creating sensitive drifts/cornices
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
2"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Wind Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
Good riding conditions when not hitting wind damaged terrain.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Cracking
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Cracking along wind loaded areas NW-E. See picture below
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #2 Comments
Had a failure at the 36cm level ECT17Q2 at 36cm on 3mm facets. Increasing danger if we receive any heavy snow in the near future. This was at 8950'. Below 8500' on some N-E slopes pack was thinner with fist facets near the ground. Failed on back cuts while doing hand pits but could not get to run with ski cuts. Needed more weight.