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Observation: Mount Naomi Wilderness

Observation Date
1/3/2015
Observer Name
Weed/Archibald
Region
Logan » Cherry Creek » Mount Naomi Wilderness
Location Name or Route
Cougar Peak
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
West
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Very light snowfall in the afternoon. Low clouds obscurring peaks. Flat light
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Wind Crust
Rain-Rime Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments

Snow surface badly wind jacked with widespread rime-crust also. Strong winds uprooted trees and spread branches and pine needles all over the snow at upper elevations. No powder and challenging inconsistent snow conditions, sastsrugi, wind board, rime crust, and deep very stiff wind drifts.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Wind Loading
Red Flags Comments
Wind loading and recent avalanches from east wind event on 12-30-2014. No more recent activity or obvious signs of instability.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments

Large stiff wind slabs and deep drifts, but not especially sensitive. We triggered some localized cracking, but did not venture onto obvious wind slabs on steep slopes.

Comments

Strong east wind spread fir needles and branches all over the snow and uprooted trees in exposed upper elevation terrain. Proving the magnitude of last week's wind storm.

We could see evidence of a few fairly recent wind slab avalanches in both northeast and southwest facing upper elevation terrain.

We came across this strange glide crack high on Cougar Peak, ~20' long, 5cms+ wide, and at least a couple feet deep. The crack was on a fairly low angled slope, but with a huge whale of drifted snow on a steep roll just below.

Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate