Observation: Cutler Ridge

Observation Date
12/7/2019
Observer Name
Wewer, Gompert
Region
Ogden » Ben Lomond » Cutler Ridge
Location Name or Route
Cutler Ridge
Weather
Sky
Few
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Moderate to strong wind in exposed areas (especially above weather station and overlooking Ogden). Winds were strong enough to cause us to retreat to the sheltered trees to rip skins, instead of enjoying the view.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Wind Crust
Melt-Freeze Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
Skied 0630-1030. Found a mixed bag of surface conditions, but was primarily wind affected, punchy snow above about 7,000'. Isolated and sheltered areas had soft snow. Below 7,000', on E and SE aspects, snow was damp and spongy and skied more like spring conditions. Got some fresh rollerballs going on a few slopes. Total snow depth seemed to be about 24-30" at the mid and upper elevations, with more in wind loaded areas and shady aspects.
I also skied on Friday morning and found soft snow above 7,500', damp and spongy snow between 7,000 and 7,500' and curb-and-gutter breakable crust below 7,000'. Conditions on Saturday seemed much improved, as Thursday's new snow had more time to consolidate into a more skiable layer below 7,000'.
Travel was relatively easy, but still lots of stumps and obstacles sticking out, and thin/rocky areas at lower elevations.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Red Flags Comments
No red flags, other than fresh wind loading. No recent avalanches noted. Only some minor wet activity and rollerballs likely from Friday.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
Looking into the upper Cutler Basin, it was easy to see the ripples indicative of wind affected snow. I imagine there were some spots today where you could have kicked off some small to medium slabs within the new snow, but we didn't find any.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
We were able to find about 6 inches of old faceted snow on NE aspects from about 8,000' and higher. In general, there seems to be a lot of vegetation poking through this layer, and the facets appear to be gaining strength. The Thanksgiving snow has formed a cohesive slab above this layer, where it exists.
Comments
Snowpit and ECT: 4 feet (120 cm) total depth. ECT (22) on NE aspect, 8100', 30 degree slope. Not the cleanest ECT, but demonstrates the cohesiveness of the slab (Thanksgiving storm) over a 6" (15cm) layer of weak facets. Slab was F for top few inches, then trended 4F to 1F with greater depth. Facets were F to 4F.
Video
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
Coordinates