Observation Date
1/13/2017
Observer Name
Bill Hunt
Region
Ogden » Snowbasin Backcountry
Location Name or Route
Snowbasin backcountry
Weather
Sky
Scattered
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
No wind finally!
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments
Snowbasin reported 0" in the past 24 hours, 16" in 48 hours, and a base of 109" (!). This year is the first time I have seen Snowbasin with a base more than Alta and Snowbird in January.
wasatchsnowforecast.com has a very nice summary of the storm cycle, with Snowbasin receiving 72 inches since Jan 2, 2017. I archived that page here:
http://web.archive.org/web/20170114005728/http://www.wasatchsnowforecast.com/
I measured 21" of soft snow over last month's rain crust, at 7000'. It had a bottomless feel, and turned very well on lower slope angles in the 30 degree range.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Heavy Snowfall
Red Flags Comments
I stayed on conservative terrain that I have been on a few times this storm cycle. Lower slope angles were turning very well.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Problem #1 Comments
I think everything above the rain crust is potentially in play on steeper slopes. As those photos in today's forecast show, a fracture within the storm cycle snow could be huge right now. Upper elevations are clearly going to be more hazardous, but I don't see a reason to go higher, when the turning is so good at lower elevations right now. The steeps in Hells are very suspect in my book right now; its not a time for people unfamiliar with the area to wander into those main lines.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Problem #2 Comments
Those ferocious winds were not that long ago; and harder slabs are just not predictable.
Comments
A test slope at 9000' was stable, however, I don't think this is very representative of steeper slopes. I would want to be on belay to make a more committing cut on steeper areas. Also, I tend to make the same cuts on the same test slopes every storm cycle, which is stabilizing those test slopes.
Lower slope angles were quite good today.
Here is the basket of this pole on the rain crust, at 7000' elevation. The basket to the second pole segment measures 21".
Unidentified tracks out the exit; perhaps a coyote?
The Moderate rating is for below 35 degree slope angles, and below 8500' elevations.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
