Observation: Ben Lomond

Observation Date
3/10/2016
Observer Name
kory
Region
Ogden » Ben Lomond
Location Name or Route
Ben Lomond
Weather
Sky
Few
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Winds on the Ben Lomond shoulder were out of the SW. In most other places I was seeing a NW wind. Really heated up today. Anything below 8500ft in the afternoon was mushey.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Dense Loose
Wind Crust
Damp
Red Flags
Red Flags
Cracking
Collapsing
Rapid Warming
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wet Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments

Wet slab again tomorrow with a good freeze tonight not very likely.

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

Not reactive at upper elevations today. Could be multiple reasons.

Comments

Today was another beautiful day. I found cold dry snow at upper elevations ( Above 8500 Ft) all morning than in the afternoon anything below 8500 ft on all aspects had become wet. There was a decent amount of wind loading today even at mid elevations. The Mid elevation wind slabs were the most reactive with two collapses and some cracking. But once above 8200 ft the wind slabs were not reactive. This could be due to the fact that upper elevation wind slabs have had time to settle and lower wind slabs were just finally starting to form today.

The snowpack is a mixed bag. I found in protected areas semi reactive facets under the rain crust from march 6th. These facets are in the 2mm size currently. We still just don't have a great slab sitting on them yet. Maybe with a little more snow and a little more wind they will become more reactive. I also did not find them at the upper elevation windy areas on Ben Lomond either because they blew away or got demolished day in and day out by the wind up there.

Photo 1 Hand Shear

Photo 2 Facets

Photo 3 Wind Loading on saddle in the usual spot.

Photo 4 West aspects are getting slim also.

Photo 5 Cool wind affect. Stripping

Photo 6 Very Very sunny and warm

Video

P.S. Who ever skied the Chili Peak Slab Shoot today nice work. Well done, fall line, very pretty turns, on blank canvas.

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