Observation: Snowbasin Backcountry

Observation Date
3/5/2013
Observer Name
Bill Hunt
Region
Ogden
Location Name or Route
Snowbasin backcountry
Weather
Sky
Few
Wind Direction
Southeast
Wind Speed
Extreme
Weather Comments
The wind was absolutely nuking along the ridge to No Name; I'd estimate 50mph with gusts to 60; I kneeled into some of those gusts. It was out of the SE when hiking No Name, but that may be due to the local geography. Down off the ridge it abated quickly.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Dense Loose
Wind Crust
Melt-Freeze Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
Surprisingly decent turning conditions in north facing trees, from 9000 down to 7000. Below there was increasingly crusty.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Cracking
Red Flags Comments
I did not get above 9000 feet today, but with winds like that, substantial loading would be going on at higher elevations. Cracking was limited to wind affected areas; the test slope where I had results was around 8700 feet, North facing, on a subridge which is somewhat wind-exposed. The top of this spot, which gets the most wind, was too stubborn to move. It was below there, but not down in the trees, that would crack.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
Some test slopes were not reactive, but carefully cutting one windroll did find 3 small slab pockets. 6 to 8" deep, 8 to 12 feet wide, all starting at my board. The snow seemed too thick and "stubborn" for these to propagate or run.
Comments
Below, a 6 inch deep pocket, which did not run.
Below, the largest pocket was 8" deep, about 15 feet wide, and did not really run either; most of the snow did not go more than 15 feet. Perhaps I should mention that I did belayed cuts (and belayed booting back up, which really compacts the snowpack) in this same spot a few days ago, so I was reasonably sure that any movement would only be in the new snow from the last 5" storm cycle. Windloading could certainly be much more, but in this particular location, I did not get results over 8" deep. There is another rollover down the slope to the right, that I did not feel good about getting on, because I have not seen tracks in that spot all year.
Another pocket with similar characteristics.