Observation: Cutler Ridge

Observation Date
4/2/2024
Observer Name
Hardesty and Kelly
Region
Ogden » Ben Lomond » Cutler Ridge
Location Name or Route
Cutler Ridge
Weather
Sky
Clear
Wind Speed
Calm
Weather Comments
Clear, calm, and hot.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
2"
Snow Surface Conditions
Melt-Freeze Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
Supportable crusts with clear and cold; then rapidly punchy and unsupportable by late morning.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Collapsing
Rapid Warming
Red Flags Comments
Many wet loose avalanches noted on east to southerly facing terrain. Some up to near size 2 (large enough to bury a person) in steep sustained terrain (and particularly areas with pronounced transitions or terrain traps). None of these (that we could tell) pried out any lingering soft slabs or transitional wet slabs.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wet Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
Wet snow issues will persist for the next few days until the next storm. There has not been enough transition to spring weather and therefore the upper 2-3' of snow has various crusts, grains and degrees of cohesion...and avalanches will continue to be possible until there is a proper melt-freeze regime. As such, we noted collapsing in the superficial crust on less cohesive wet grains below (lower elevations). An ECT revealed ECTPs a foot down at a crust/loose wet grains interface. Very easy to see "strong over weak" and/or hear collapsing in the snowpack.
That said, timing. is the name of the game in the spring - two skiers had skiied off the summit of Ben Lomond down the headwall by mid-morning.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Problem #2 Comments
We noted many many natural soft slab avalanche pockets in, below, and south of the Bailey Spring area on east/northeast facing slopes in the mid and upper elevations, well off the ridge-lines and at terrain features. These most likely ran Sunday with the higher winds.
Snow Profile
Aspect
Southeast
Elevation
6,200'
Slope Angle
30°
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
None
Coordinates