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Observation: Rodeo Ridge

Observation Date
2/2/2017
Observer Name
Pagnucco, Davis
Region
Ogden » Ben Lomond » Rodeo Ridge
Location Name or Route
Rodeo Ridge
Weather
Sky
Obscured
Precipitation
Moderate Snowfall
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Moderate snowfall above 7000'. Already 3 to 6" by 1pm. Light but swirly wind. Below 7000' much calmer with light, wet snowfall. Mashed potatoes like.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
4"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments

Cooler temps at mid elevation made for fun turning conditions. Lower elevations had about 3" of mashed potatoes on top of either a breakable or very slick crust.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Heavy Snowfall
Cracking
Red Flags Comments
Only saw one minor crack today at low elevations where the wind had built up small slabs. We tried to find any remnant of buried surface hoar to no avail. Dug around 7500' on a N facing slope. HS 12ft plus. No significant weak layers in the top 5 feet. Found some density changes within last week's snow but no prop. One finger hardness for most of that 5 ft. with about 8 to 10 inches of fist/4F on the surface.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Problem #1 Comments

Stayed well below the wind zone but could hear it howling over towards Cutler. Ogden Peak had high winds today between 1 and 4pm and moderate winds the rest of the day. I imagine wind slabs developed rapidly in higher, exposed elevations.

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

Hard to believe someone could have triggered a persistent slab avalanche today. The pack is deep and compressed, at least in the Rodeo Ridge area. That is not to say there is no chance elsewhere in the Ogden area - between Bountiful Peak, Powder Mountain, Snowbasin, Monte Cristo, and Ben Lomond the snowpack varies greatly. There may be isolated places where the buried surface hoar and/or NSF remain players but unless we get another big load all at once I don't think we'll see avalanches on these buried weaknesses.

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