Ad
The National Forest Service Logo
icon-add Observation
Forecasts
Logan Ogden Salt Lake Provo Uintas Skyline Moab Abajos Weather Archives How to read the forecast
Observations & Avalanches
Submit Observation NEW - Observations Explorer All Observations Avalanches Fatalities Place Names Map Archives
Education
Avalanche Awareness Develop Skills On-Snow Courses Resources and Tutorials
Events
Store
About
Contact Who we are Core Values Staff Board of Directors Past Forecasters Sponsors Annual Reports Sign In
Blog
icon-add Observation
Donate / Join

Observation: Cutler Ridge

Observation Date
1/28/2018
Observer Name
Megan Brandt, Bill Brandt, Lee Fortin
Region
Ogden » Ben Lomond » Cutler Ridge
Location Name or Route
Cutler
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Wind Speed
Calm
Weather Comments
Very warm, 40°F in the parking lot and 32°F at 8700ft. Early morning sun created some greenhouse effect and later in the afternoon resulted in a thin crust.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Melt-Freeze Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments

Thin breakable, melt freeze crust on wind effected snow at higher elevations. Spring like, soft conditions below 7600 ft elevation which was where the skiing was the best.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Poor Snowpack Structure
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments

Shovel sheer test resulted in a Q1 shear 94cm down with CTX and ECTX. Persistent slab avalanches are not likely but will be large and dangerous if triggered.

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

High winds during the past few days created wind slabs that are now stubborn and do not react to ski cuts.

Snow Profile
Aspect
Northeast
Elevation
8,700'
Slope Angle
25°
Comments

Shovel Shear Test resulting in Q1 shear 94cm down. Failure above glacial ice layer at 26cm from ground.

Video
https://vimeo.com/253174404

Melt freeze crust approximately 30cm down.

A few crust layers in the top half of the snow pack that were pencil to knife hardness.

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