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Observation: Hells Canyon

Observation Date
3/27/2018
Observer Name
Pagnucco, Weed
Region
Ogden » Snowbasin Backcountry » Hells Canyon
Location Name or Route
Hells Canyon
Weather
Weather Comments
Stunning day with seasonally cool temps at high elevation and little wind
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
16"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments

Light to medium density cold snow in shaded high to mid elevation terrain. Depth decreased with drop in elevation. Snow became wet by noon on sun affected slopes.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Rapid Warming
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Easy pushalanches on sun affected slopes up to 12" deep. Had failure upon isolation at old facets 15 cm up from ground for CT test a few times. Facets are still very weak and intact though moist. ECTP 23 at same layer. Multiple crusts in upper half of pack holding it together.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wet Snow
Problem #1 Comments

Easy to push loose wet snow into small avalanches on steep sun affected slopes. They easily gained snow and momentum.

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

Was a bit surprised to have failures at the ground instead of near most recent "rain" crust. (see pit profile) Snowpack is gaining strength with cold overnight temps though the deep old weak facets may come back to life when temps soar or with another significant rain event.

Snow Profile
Aspect
North
Elevation
8,600'
Slope Angle
35°
Comments

Multiple crusts throughout snowpack. Weakest snow is at the bottom. Appears that storm instabilities have stabilized well.

We purposely dug our pit on a shaded N facing slope to check on deeper weak layers. Sun affected slopes were going off by midday and pushalanches were easy to initiate on steep slopes.

Not your typical rain crust - last Thursday's storm laid down some hail which then compressed into a fairly thick and hard crust. It is supportable though easily crumbled in hand.

Deep old weak facets still intact about 10-20cm above the ground.

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