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Observation: Ogden

Observation Date
12/19/2019
Observer Name
Derek DeBruin
Region
Ogden
Location Name or Route
Ben Lomond, Cutler Ridge
Weather
Sky
Few
Wind Direction
Northwest
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Single digits temps this morning at the trailhead owing to inversion. Winds were calm most of the day and only began picking up mid to late afternoon at mid elevations. Snow transport was occurring as low as 7500ft or so; did not note visible transport on the ridgeline or summits from our location below. However, would not be surprised to see a bit of wind slab in new places tomorrow at the upper elevations with sustained winds throughout the evening.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Dense Loose
Faceted Loose
Wind Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
Mixed bag of surface conditions today. Preserved powder in sheltered locations. Wide spread surface hoar across the map. Pretty large grain size in the low elevation inversion, that persisted even on slopes in direct sun much of the day. As high as 7800ft, even found the sparkle of fine grained surface hoar on top of previously wind affected snow.
In exposed locations at mid elevations, scalloped and rippled snow surfaces indicated wind effects. This wind crust varied from supportable to breakable at seemingly exactly the wrong moments for making good turns.
Especially on sunny slopes, snow under the surface hoar was dense loose, but even early in the day we did not find significant crust yet.
Red Flags
Red Flags Comments
None. No significant wind loading witnessed on our tour (though winds shifted and picked up late in the day) and saw no avalanches.
Comments
Photo of a chunk of the wind crust resting on the wind affected snow around 7300ft.
Dug a pit around 7900ft on the NNW aspect of dead tree knob. Found the facets comprising as much as the bottom 10cm of the snowpack, with enough moisture to bond when squeezed in hand, and individual grains rounding and aggregating. Right side up snow ranging from P to F hardness above this, 1.5m snow height in this location. ECTs were unreactive.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Low
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Low