Observation Date
1/1/2015
Observer Name
Weed
Region
Logan » Beaver Creek » Beaver Creek Canyon
Location Name or Route
DayGlo Area (across canyon from Beaver Mt. backside)
Weather
Sky
Clear
Wind Direction
Northeast
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Warmer in the sun..... Still a bit nippy in the shade.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments
Nice settled powder conditions even in the sun. Shallow powder on Solstice rain-crust at lower elevations.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Collapsing
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
I triggered a couple audible collapses in areas with shallower snow cover or where the snow was shallow in December. Investigation in these areas revealed a thin layer of weak sugary faceted snow from December capped by the thick Solstice crust. The crust may have helped transmit the collapses, making the area involved a bit bigger than "locallized"
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #2 Comments
Unlikely, but one still might trigger a dangerous slab in isolated terrain with poor snow structure.
Comments
In the DayGlo area, I came upon a steep slope that looked as though it had naturally cracked due to wind-loading from the east winds earlier in the week. Looked like it had cracked and failed, but not run as an avalanche in this case.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
