Observation: Swan Peak

Observation Date
2/26/2014
Observer Name
Pagnucco/A Ward
Region
Logan » Bear Lake » Garden City Canyon » Swan Peak
Location Name or Route
Football Field, Swan Peak East Bowls
Weather
Sky
Broken
Wind Speed
Calm
Weather Comments
Beautiful warm day. Not too sunny but plenty of warming occuring.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments

Snow on east and south aspects was fairly damp though very ridable until early afternoon.

West faces were perfectly corned up by the afternoon.

The only sign of instability was a collapse that occurred on an isolated wind pillow in an otherwise barren low angle section. Wind ravaged the area over the weekend so the upper west faces were stripped of snow and in some areas were down to bare rocks.

Saw the remnants of a large slide in the Gut that likely occurred during the last cycle, last week.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Collapsing
Rapid Warming
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Lots of rollerballs, as expected, on steeper terrain. Snow became very saturated on east and south mid to low elevations as the temperatures increased. Noted one significant collapse in shallow (wind scoured) upper elevation terrain near the top of Swan Peak.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate