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Observation: Ben Lomond

Observation Date
12/2/2015
Observer Name
Kory
Region
Ogden » Ben Lomond
Location Name or Route
Cutler Ridge to Willard Overlook
Weather
Sky
Scattered
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Nice and sunny for most of the climb but as usual when you get out of the trees the wind was blowing up on the upper parts of cutler ridge.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Faceted Loose
Snow Characteristics Comments

The snow was still very light and dry from the Sunday/Monday light flurries and cold temperatures here in the Ogden valley. There was also 3-4mm surface hoar on lower elevations on all but due south aspects. at upper elevations it was more in the 1-2mm size surface hoar and again on all aspects but due south. The new snow was also starting to facet even though they were still mainly rounds with the cold temps and shallow snowpack I bet the whole snowpack will be facets soon. HS was 32cm. The snow was also to light and faceted to do any snow tests.

Red Flags
Red Flags Comments
There were no red flags
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments

The only place you could trigger an avalanche in the upper Willard Cirque or Ben Lomond is if there were wind loaded pockets over the faceted snow from the earlier November storms. Most places there still is not enough snow to trigger an avalanche.

Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Problem #2 Comments

I have trouble saying there is a persistent slab problem because there was no slab that I could find but maybe somewhere you could find one.

Snow Profile
Aspect
North
Elevation
8,000'
Slope Angle
22°
Comments

Snow was mainly faceted. (Can't Figure out the Photo Editor yet so here is my pit profile) 0-9 Fist, 9-17 4F, 17-31Fist (New Snow from end November/Beginning of Dec Storm.

1. More moose than people is the usual in the Ogden Mountains. 2. Ben Lomond Peak weather station. 3. Snowpack in the Willard Cirque. 4. Looking south toward Chili Peak.

The skiing is not skiing yet in the ogden mounatins. You just walk up the summer trail than just try and survive on the way down. I suggest a snowbike or snowshoes still. Took my skins off for a minute and realized I had made a mistake. I will say that this is the most snow we have had in the Ogden Mountains at the first of December for the last couple years.

Photo 1 and 2; Facets from 0-9 cm in the ogden snowpack. Photo 3; Surface hoar at upper elevation. 4. Pit Profile again

Today's Observed Danger Rating
Low
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Low
Coordinates