Observation: Cutler Basin

Observation Date

2/17/2018

Observer Name

Bill Brandt

Region

Ogden » Ben Lomond » Cutler Basin

Location Name or Route

Ben Lomond Peak to Cutler Basin

Weather

Sky

Scattered

Wind Direction

Southwest

Wind Speed

Moderate

Weather Comments

Moderate winds with strong gusts on approach to Ben Lomond summit. Wind and blowing snow limited visability intermitttantly. Not much wind at the start of the tour. Blue skies became overcast by 3 pm.

Snow Characteristics

New Snow Depth

New Snow Density

Medium

Snow Surface Conditions

Powder

Wind Crust

Melt-Freeze Crust

Snow Characteristics Comments

Soft snow on surface with a firm icy base. New snow was graupel and rimed stellars. Wind had scoured surface to hard and icy old snow surface. Wind slabs were mostly soft , but firming up as the day progressed. New snow was well bonded to old snow surface. The approach through North Fork Park is very thin. We had to remove our skis and walk on the gravel road and summer trail several times. The only viable exit route is the summer trail. Not enough snow and to much brush below 6800 ft.

Red Flags

Recent Avalanches

Wind Loading

Cracking

Poor Snowpack Structure

Red Flags Comments

The wind was the biggest factor today. The wind was moving a lot of snow on the upper reaches of the peak. We skied a fairly wind protected line with out much slab formation. Several ski cuts produced no results on steep slopes near the top of the peak. About 2/3's of the way down the NE face we encountered significant cross loading and wind slabs. Gulley walls were cracking and small skier released wind slabs were running short distances. We skied small subridges safely to the bottom. In retrospect I became more uncomfortable with our decision to ski this slope as the snow became more unstable lower towards Cutler Basin. If we had more than 4 inches of new snow we would have been in real trouble. Stability was very different at the top of the slope, where we made our decision to ski, than near the bottom.

Avalanche Problem #1

Problem

Wind Drifted Snow

Problem #1 Comments

Yes it was windy. The red flags were there, but not registering today.