Observation Date
1/21/2020
Observer Name
Derek DeBruin
Region
Ogden
Location Name or Route
Ben Lomond, Cutler Ridge, Dead Tree
Weather
Sky
Broken
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
A warm day for a hike--vents open, hats off, bare hands kinda conditions. There were some sprinkles of rain in town that thankfully turned into flurries by the time we hit the trailhead. However, there was no appreciable accumulation in the low to mid elevations between 1030am and 2pm while we were out. We were under partly to mostly cloudy skies much of the time, though the summit and ridgelines were quite socked in by cloud; I wouldn't be surprised if an inch or two fell at the upper elevations. Winds were generally light and out of the southwest with some snow transport in the remaining surface snow that wasn't already affected by sun, heat, or previous wind.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Dense Loose
Melt-Freeze Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
Snow surface varied by elevation and aspect. Low elevation sun exposed terrain had a melt freeze crust here and there, but low elevation terrain was generally dominated by damp spring-like snow. Mid elevation snow was a bit cooler, skiing consistently creamy and dense. Exposed terrain featured various amounts of wind effect but wasn't completely hammered yet, with soft-ish dense snow still to be found. Certainly a mixed bag, but surprisingly decent on the descent.
Comments
Rollerballs on a low elevation steep northerly. Evidence of the damp snow and temps well above freezing down low.
The skin track from this weekend was well established and pretty deep. However, in exposed terrain wind had clearly filled it in over the last couple days prior to warming a bit and softening somewhat. Despite the existing wind effect, there was still some soft surface snow available for transport.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Low
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Low
