Observation Date
1/16/2019
Observer Name
Derek DeBruin
Region
Ogden » Snowbasin Backcountry
Location Name or Route
Banana Chute, Allen Peak, Mount Ogden
Weather
Sky
Obscured
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Relatively warm temperatures at the trailhead (4800ft) this morning with some mid density snow still falling until about 1200. Overcast turned to obscured as we climbed, dramatically reducing visibility. Wind seemed variable throughout the day, but was consistently moderate or more as we ascended through the middle and upper elevation bands. Skis began clearing the by the end of the day and lower elevations were quite warm and wet.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
8"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Dense Loose
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
New snow at the highest elevations (9465ft on Allen Peak) was about 10", with decreasing amounts at lower elevations (about 8" at mid elevation). Surface snow was powder or dense loose when wind affected (generally F to 4F hardness). At lower elevations snow was quite damp and heavy, with a few point releases and rollerballs present.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Heavy Snowfall
Wind Loading
Red Flags Comments
Saw one natural avalanche today (see report), though I wouldn't be too surprised if there were others that we couldn't see due to low visibility. Wind was definitely transporting snow and sufficient snowfall led to the creation of soft and harder pockets of wind affected snow.
Pertinent negative: pit on a NW aspect circa 9200ft below Allen Peak did not present the "gray stripe" of the persistent weak layer. We experienced surface instability only today with a right side up snowpack transitioning nicely from F to 1F through its entire 170cm depth to the ground.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
Wind affected snow resulted in very small releases while ascending the ridgeline. On the descent, the upper reaches of Allen Peak featured mid or high density surface snow, but no significant wind pillows. 500ft below the summit, we were a bit surprised to find more significant wind effects, at the low end of the upper elevation band and into the mid elevations. There were pockets reactive to ski cutting, and small 6 - 8" releases failing on the new/old snow interface on slopes steeper than about 35 degrees. These were D1 to D1.5 in size (see report). The natural avalanche we saw was a similar failure on a larger scale in the gut of the Banana Chute. With continued wind and snowfall, I don't see the wind loading going away in the next few days.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
As the rest of the system moves in, I'm sure the new snow problems will continue. Today's moderate snowfall amount made new snow/sluffing a far lower concern then the wind pockets noted above.
Hazard definitely felt like moderate+ at times today, though maybe not full-blown considerable. Definitely expect elevated hazard with the incoming additional snow, though not sure how reactive or prevalent the PWL will be.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable
