Observation Date
1/11/2013
Observer Name
Weed, Pagnucco, McAvoy
Region
Logan
Location Name or Route
Long Mountain Trees
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
West
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Cold... drifting occurring in exposed terrain
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
12"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments
Around a foot of new snow this morning at the trailhead and only a few inches near the ridge top (8700'*)
Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Collapsing
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
First collapsing we observed this winter... We triggered a couple locallized subtle and fairly quite audible collapses when crossing wind drifts as we travelled along the Long Mountain (Millville Peak) ridge-line. I'm thinking the plentiful near surface facets under Tuesday's rime crust are the culprits.. Darren triggered a small wind slab on an obviously drifted short steep slope near the green gate on a north facing slope at around 7800' in elevation.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
We cracked out a couple small wind slabs, the most active area was at mid elevations where there was significantly more new snow than up higher.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wet Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #2 Comments
Sluffing in the light new snow was easy to initiate on steep slopes at mid and lower elevations.
Snow Profile
Aspect
North
Elevation
8,400'
Slope Angle
35°
Comments
This small wind slab released with a collapse and a whumpfing noise when Darren skied out onto a short obviously drifted slope...
Video
The snowpack up high in the Long Mountain trees is shallow and weak. Only a couple inches of new snow covered a thin rime crust capping very weak ,sugary, small grained faceted snow .
We found some good powder riding at mid elevations, but you could still hear your skis breaking through the thin rime crust under the fresh powder.
Coordinates
