Observation: Bellicosity Bowl

Observation Date
11/17/2013
Observer Name
MWard
Region
Logan » Logan River » Cottonwood, South Fork » Bellicosity Bowl
Location Name or Route
Bellicosty & S. Fork of Cottonwood
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Wind Direction
North
Weather Comments
25 mph gusts from the north until noon, then calm
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
12"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Dense Loose
Wind Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
12" 4 finger slab on top of 6" of facets.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Collapsing
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
N and NE aspects: 12" slab on 6" facets, collapsing, slab on facets
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Problem #1 Comments
Winds off the ridges and down slope created heavy slab on top of facets.
Snow Profile
Aspect
North
Comments
Hiked to Bellicosity to look at coverage and access the snow. Coverage in the bowl was thin, even for cone flower skiing. The bowl had received a lot of wind loading and was likely wind jacked. Heard several collapses while approaching the bowl. Dug a pit 100 yards skier's right of bowl on a 38 degree slope. During column tests, a 12" wind slab failed on the facets with 8 taps from the wrist. Skied lower angle terrain in the area and over to S. Fork of Cottonwood and found better snow on more protected slopes.
Bellicosity
Looking out across the bowl from pit location. The early season line is not in the photo but has similar coverage.