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Observation: North Ogden Divide

Observation Date
2/4/2013
Observer Name
brian smith
Region
Ogden
Location Name or Route
south of north ogden pass to 7800ft
Weather
Sky
Clear
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Dense Loose
Snow Characteristics Comments

surface hoar in the protected areas. The upside down aspect of the pack in nearly gone. Trail breaking is easier and there is nice soft settled powder in the north slopes.

Red Flags
Red Flags Comments
I saw no red flags
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments

The weak snow is there but stubborn. I jumped on a bunch of 40 deg. test slopes with no results. But the ECT at 7800 ft. there is a perfect slab with 19 wacks.

Comments

AT 7800ft. there is 36-40 inches of snow. There is an ice layer 16 inches down and the large faceted snow is 22 inches down. This is where the ECT failed with perfect propagation at 19 wacks. The photos show this slab failing in the deep facets.

great skiing out there with what looks on the surface to be totally stable snow until you see how it comes out with pit analysis. I still would be nervous with steep stuff