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Observation: Powder Mountain Backcountry

Observation Date
2/4/2013
Observer Name
orum/swenson
Region
Ogden
Location Name or Route
powder mtn backcountryWC
Weather
Sky
Few
Weather Comments
Light NW breeze in the afternoon
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Faceted Loose
Rain-Rime Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments

thin rime crust on top with new now below providing fast riding conditions. New crop of Surface hoar on W-NE aspects

Red Flags
Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Still have 30cm of fist facets on the bottom of the snowpack. HS was only 138cm on a West slope 8800' and 108cm at 8740' on a North slope. In both locations ECTX. A hand pit on the way up showed some buried SH about 40cm down with any easy pull and clean shear. This aspect was NW. I believe this is spotty in the area as I tried again just a few feet ahead and the hand pit did not produce anything. The trend will probably stay the same until the next storm arrives on Friday then we will possibly have another layer of buried surface hoar with a rime crust thrown in just for kicks.
Avalanche Problem #1
Trend
Same