Observation Date
2/19/2020
Observer Name
Derek DeBruin
Region
Ogden » Ben Lomond » Cutler Ridge
Location Name or Route
Ben Lomond, Cutler Ridge
Weather
Weather Comments
-2F at the trailhead this morning at 0800am, and expectedly chilly in the shade. However, the calm air and clear skies made skinning in the sun perfectly pleasant.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Characteristics Comments
Cold temps have preserved most of the powder. However, time plus a bit of sun and wind have begun consolidating the snow into lightly cohesive crusts and chunks. Riding is still good for the time being at the low and mid elevations, but with increasing temps in the forecast in the coming days, I'm not sure how long that will last.Above 8,000ft or so, surface wind effects are evident from a distance; as I didn't venture that far this morning, I'm not sure how good the riding is up high. Wind has also stripped the most exposed locations bare to the 7 February ice crust, but this is easy to spot and infrequent.
Red Flags
Red Flags Comments
Nothing. Saw no natural avalanches. Stomped on a handful of test slopes across the compass and didn't get any cracking or collapsing, nothing running on the crust, and nothing running in the new snow. However, I have to imagine there are still buried facets lurking somewhere in sheltered terrain in isolated locations just waiting for a trigger.
Comments
A bit of cohesive surface snow, breaking into chunks under skier weight on steeper terrain. This is indicative of most of the surface snow. Still very rideable, but not blower.
A view of surface wind effects (indicated by arrow) around 8,200ft. Below this, wind effects are fairly minimal and have little impact on surface riding conditions.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
