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Observation: Bloomington Canyon

Observation Date
12/24/2021
Observer Name
Staples
Region
Logan » SE Idaho » Bloomington Canyon
Location Name or Route
Middle Fork of Bloomington and Paris Flats
Weather
Sky
Obscured
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Weather Comments
On/off snow most of the day. Seemed to be increasing in the afternoon
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
10"
New Snow Density
High
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments
Very supportable riding conditions with such dense powder.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Cracking
Collapsing
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
We had no trouble finding the PWL. Another group reported widespread collapsing.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
We found this layer generally 6-12" above the ground and it was usually 1-2" thick on any northerly facing slope. We were at elevations of 8000-8300 ft.
ECTP scores in the low teens
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #2 Comments
New snow would break in ECT's on 6 taps but would not propagate.
As for any wind drifts, visibility was too poor to really get up high enough to assess wind affects.
Snow Profile
Aspect
Northwest
Elevation
8,200'
Comments
Snow profile is of the first pit photo. We dug on SE (no facets), E (facets - yes), NW (facets - yes), N (facets - yes), and N (facets - yes). All pits between 8000 and 8300 ft.
Its hard to see but there is a crack in the photo below that was about 75 feet long. It was on a small wind loaded feature. Unfortunately, we could not check out other slopes with wind loading due to nearly whiteout conditions at ridgetops near 8500 feet.
Video
Today's Observed Danger Rating
High
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
High
Coordinates