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Observation: Providence Peak

Observation Date
12/26/2015
Observer Name
Weed
Region
Logan » Providence Canyon » Providence Peak
Location Name or Route
Upper Providence Canyon
Weather
Sky
Clear
Wind Direction
Northeast
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Sunny but quite cold, especially on the ridgetop and when exposed to the breeze.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments

Generally very nice powder riding conditions on slopes facing all directions, with a bit of wind-jack on the surface in areas most exposed to the wind.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
No obvious signs of current instability noted.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments

Most large avalanche paths in the Providence Canyon Area naturally avalanched during pre-Christmas storm, but at different times. These large deep slab avalanches failed on sugary faceted snow that is widespread across the zone in the basal layers of the snowpack

Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments

I could also see a few shallower wind slab avalanches. The slabs created by recent drifting of light density snow.

Comments

I could see evidence from numerous natural avalanches from different times during the recent storm. The fresher activity probably occurred on Christmas Eve, and I'm not 100% sure that they naturally occurred.. The avalanches were on popular slopes and they are fairly close to popular sledding routes. Folks were up in upper Providence Canyon on Christmas Eve and may have unknowingly remote triggered some of the avalanches, which likely were unseen due to poor visibility...

Video
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable