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Observation: Dog Leg Trees

Observation Date
1/8/2024
Observer Name
Toby Weed
Region
Logan » Providence Canyon » Dog Leg Trees
Location Name or Route
Dogleg Trees
Weather
Sky
Broken
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Cold in the shade. Temps dropping in the afternoon
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
2'
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments
Excellent powder skiing conditions.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Collapsing
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Triggered two obvious and a few "quiet" collapses between ~7800 and 8100' in elevation in north-facing terrain. Weak snow still lacking a slab to be active.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
The danger of avalanches failing on a PWL will undoubtedly increase as more snow accumulates and is drifted by winds that are advertised to increase in the next couple days.
Snow Profile
Aspect
North
Elevation
8,300'
Slope Angle
24°
Comments
We found deep new snow, but trail breaking wasn't all that bad since the scenery was fantastic.
The December snow surface is fragile. Here are a couple of examples of it showing signs of instability.
The first indicator was cracking on a cutbank triggered by a sled. The snow below the new snow was very loose and sugary.
I triggered a couple of very small soft slabs on a steep mid-elevation slope that failed on the same sugary interface. They probably would have been bigger if the fresh powder was a bit more cohesive.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable
Coordinates