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Observation: Mt, Magog Area

Observation Date
12/18/2012
Observer Name
Toby Weed
Region
Logan
Location Name or Route
Magog Flats
Weather
Sky
Broken
Wind Direction
North
Wind Speed
Calm
Weather Comments
Calm, with a bit of a chill in the air. Nice to be able to see a little for a change.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
3'
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments
Supported by stiffer snow in the upper layers when on skis or a sled, sinking only 6" or so into nice surface powder. Boot penetration up to the thigh or waist in fresh snow from the last couple days.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Heavy Snowfall
Red Flags Comments
Buried persistent weak layers now very deeply buried by stout slab at upper elevations. Too deep to test accurately. I did not observe any obvious signs of instability, with even evidence of yesterday's naturals well buried and mostly hidden. No cracking or collapsing today.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
Fresh wind slabs were pretty well behaved where I was today, seemingly locked in place. I think the colder temperatures help... Wind slabs might still be triggered in very steep terrain, but not much of a problem for me today.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
I'm more concerned about deep slab instabilities in outlying areas that had relatively shallow snow before the recent storm. Wind-swept upper elevation rocky slopes might fit the bill, as will some smooth shady mid elevation slopes that had a bit of snow in late November. The newly deposited slab is so deep at upper elevations that it would be hard to imagine the weight of a person being enough to trigger an avalanche at this point.
Comments
There was enough snow at the bottom of the Tony Grove Road to plow up the berm, and the road is now closed to wheeled vehicles for the winter. It was fun breaking trail sledding up the road and being the only person up in the entire Tony Grove Area today, in a vast untracked powder paradise. The only tracks I saw were mine....
Video
These skis are 185 cms, and the snow on east facing slopes around 9000' in elevation is at least as deep as I am tall. The rain crust from early December (and associated weak layer above it) are visible near the heal-piece of my binding. Nearly four feet of accumulated snow from the past two days made accurate testing of the now very deeply buried suspect sugary weak layer beyond my scope. Instabilities within the new snow were mostly settled out...