Sign Up for the Utah Snow and Avalanche Workshop (USAW) on December 7th!

Observation: Beginner Bowl

Observation Date
2/16/2024
Observer Name
Weed, Pagnucco, Collete
Region
Logan » Logan River » Tony Grove » Beginner Bowl
Location Name or Route
Beginner Bowl Area
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Precipitation
Heavy Snowfall
Wind Direction
West
Wind Speed
Strong
Weather Comments
A full-on winter storm with periods of heavy snow, graupel, blowing snow...
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
2'
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments
The new snow was inverted, a bit heavier on top, so trail-breaking was arduous. Slow-mo skiing. Over the hood deep powder riding conditions
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Heavy Snowfall
Wind Loading
Cracking
Collapsing
Red Flags Comments
3rd person on the skin track, and I triggered a broad audible collapse, whumpf, in upper Beginner Bowl. Cracking was more noticeable in drifted terrain
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Snow Profile
Aspect
East
Elevation
8,400'
Slope Angle
23°
Comments
We identified a couple of weak layers in the upper layers of new snow that had accumulated since Wednesday. The layer of most concern is at the interface between the snow that was on the surface earlier in the week and Thursday's snow. We found a thin layer made up of small sugary grains of faceted snow and graupel. There was another weak layer at the interface between Thursday's and Friday's snow, but that once appeared to stabilize fairly quickly on Friday...
Several inches fell in just a couple of hours. Our sleds were covered by new snow and graupel when we returned from our ski tour...
The deep snow covers the bathrooms in the campgrounds. There is just about 8 feet of total snow on the ground at the nearby Tony Grove Lake Snotel.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable
Coordinates