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Observation: Beaver Mountain Backcountry

Observation Date
3/13/2023
Observer Name
Toby Weed
Region
Logan » Beaver Mountain Backcountry
Location Name or Route
Beaver Backcountry, WNW @ 8650'
Weather
Sky
Broken
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Moderate
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
2"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments
Very droppy, inverted. Even with skis on you would sink through the denser warm snow from Friday into colder softer snow below.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Cracking
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Overall conditions did not seem as stable as they often do this time of year. The snow is quite soft, lacking much in the way of hard layers.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
I think people could trigger avalanches of recently drifted snow in places. Avalanches could fail on sugary snow that lurks at the Friday storm interface....
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #2 Comments
There is a buried persistent weak layer that is reactive and shows propagation in extended column tests.
Snow Profile
Aspect
West
Elevation
8,700'
Slope Angle
27°
Comments
I found a shallowly buried weak layer at the interface of Friday's warm dense snow and last week's colder powder.
Video
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate