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Observation: Cutler Ridge

Observation Date
12/31/2018
Observer Name
Derek DeBruin
Region
Ogden » Ben Lomond » Cutler Ridge
Location Name or Route
Cutler Ridge to summit Ben Lomond
Weather
Sky
Few
Wind Direction
East
Wind Speed
Strong
Weather Comments
Skies were mostly clear, though it was fun to watch the cloud line circle in the distance as the front passed. Trailhead temp a balmy 18F at 0800, and a scorching 23F at 1400. Temps at the saddle and to the summit at midday were likely in the single digits (but didn't want to stop moving long enough to find a thermometer and confirm). A trace of snow had finished coming down by the time we started up from the trailhead. The bigger event today was snow available for transport--see below.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Dense Loose
Wind Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
Wind did come out of the east as expected. In the low elevation band winds were light to moderate. At middle elevation winds were moderate to strong, with drifting and transport starting at Dead Tree continuing up along the ridge toward the saddle and Bailey's Cirque. The Saddle was wind affected and drifted, but generally soft slabs where drifting was present, or otherwise locked in hard from scouring and packing. Minimal cornicing was present, even at the high elevations. Small cornices facing east (typical) were present along the summit ridgeline. Cornices and wind lips were starting to build facing west (atypical/reversed from normal). The summit pyramid had minor sastrugi with dense snow and/or wind scour and rime. Despite this it skied pretty consistently, not so different from hard packed groomer. The saddle had some drifting but was otherwise dense wind affected snow. Below this, frankly, everything skied quite nicely with either soft fresh snow (and a bit of surface graupel here and there) or slightly more dense snow with minor wind affects. Some wind drifts were noted, but truly stiff and significant slabs were hard to find. The stiffest snow also tended to be thin and breakable crust on the skin up.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Red Flags Comments
Wind was definitely the main event today. Despite this, a couple test slopes, quick hand pits, and ski pole penetrometers revealed generally right side up snow with largely surface instabilities such as sluffs in new, sheltered snow.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Problem #1 Comments
We noted no new avalanches, even on the Cutler Basin/Willard head wall. However, there was cross loading in the gullies on the head wall (wind lips on the north side of gullies, loading on the south sides). By the end of the day, natural avalanching might be possible on westerly aspects with sufficient wind loading (maybe the W/SW slopes of the south face?), but I think what we saw today was generally moderate hazard except in the highest elevation or most extreme terrain.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate