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Observation: Cutler Ridge

Observation Date
12/24/2023
Observer Name
Derek DeBruin & Cage Vigil
Region
Ogden » Ben Lomond » Cutler Ridge
Location Name or Route
Cutler Ridge
Weather
Weather Comments
19F at the trailhead this morning, with clouds scattered about, clearing throughout the morning. No precip and uncharacteristically calm winds.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Characteristics Comments
3-4" of new snow on the surface, largely stellars with a touch of graupel at the bottom of the new snow. Snow density decreased a bit with increasing elevation. This was a welcome refresh, but did little to cover old tracks.
There was much evidence of wind effect above about 8300ft along the ridgelines, summit, and headwall. Snow surfaces below this had wind effect only in the most exposed places, though certainly snow available for transport when the wind returns.
Comments
Crust just below the new snow was quite well-developed below about 7000ft. The snowpack under the new snow was basically a 30+cm stack of thermal crusts in various states of decomposition with a more distinct crust on top, which I assume is from the rain that accompanied the early part of the most recent storm. Photo below is reasonably representative of this. The remaining approx 30cm below the crusts was 4F, give or take.
Between 7000 and 8000ft, the crusts diminished in thickness but remained mostly supportive. The snowpack structure was quite similar to that of my observation a week ago, with an upper crust, a lower crust sandwiched by graupel, and right side up from there down to the basal facets. The basal facets were damp to wet, rounding, and about 10cm thick. Above the crust was the old recycled powder, now dampened and about 4F hardness, likely the result of the unseasonably warm weather of the last week and possibly a bit of rain. This provided a decent subsurface for riding the few inches of new snow.
Above 8000ft or so, the crusts all but disappeared, with a barely noticeable 0.5cm crust underlying the new snow, sitting atop fairly contiguous 4F to 1F down to the wet basal facets.
This photo's just because it was a good tour with good company, which is kinda the whole point.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
None
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
None
Coordinates