Observation Date
12/22/2013
Observer Name
Weed
Region
Logan » Logan River » Tony Grove » Beginner Bowl
Location Name or Route
Beginner Bowl Area
Weather
Sky
Obscured
Precipitation
Heavy Snowfall
Wind Direction
West
Wind Speed
Strong
Weather Comments
More stormy than expected, with heavy snowfall much of the time, freezing rain, strong westerly winds, significant drifting and poor visibility of higher elevation terrain.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
12"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Rain-Rime Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
Somewhat inverted and much deeper new snow than expected. We encountered difficult uphill travel conditions and fairly deep powder riding downhill.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Heavy Snowfall
Wind Loading
Cracking
Collapsing
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Did not venture into terrain steeper than about 30 degrees due to obviously dangerous avalanche conditions.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
In some exposed terrain, drifting has formed stiffer slabs out of the fresh snow on top of very weak faceted snow.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
The fresh snow is powdery and soft and not really sticking together as a slab yet in many areas. This could change fairly rapidly as the fresh snow is drifted, compacts, and becomes more of a slab. Most slopes are plagued by very weak preexisting faceted snow, and the formation of a slab layer means avalanches will become more likely.
Snow Profile
Aspect
North
Elevation
8,700'
Slope Angle
30°
Comments
In areas where wind slabs are forming the snow structure is poor. Tests show full propagation failures of fresh wind slabs on the very week faceted snow from around Thanksgiving.
Video
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable
Coordinates
