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Observation: Whiskey Hill

Observation Date
1/18/2025
Observer Name
Davis, Kelly, Sugihara
Region
Ogden » Monte Cristo » Whiskey Hill
Location Name or Route
Monte Cristo- Whiskey Hill
Weather
Sky
Clear
Wind Direction
Northwest
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Clear, and cold with nearby weather stations in the high single digits to low teens °F. Winds were blowing lightly out of the northwest.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
10"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments
3"-4" at the trailhead,and 8"-10" new snow at 8,900' in elevation. New snow was low density and made for great travel. Still thin snowpack with lots of brush, trees, and grass showing through up to 8,200' in elevation.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Snow Profile
Aspect
Northeast
Elevation
8,600'
Slope Angle
21°
Comments
Snowpit on a northeast aspect at 8,570' had a height of snow of 49" (125cm) with dry four-finger facets near the ground. We had no propagation on 2 extended column tests. The first one had some brush in it so we tried a second extended columnt test with no results. Compression test showed no results, but we did have propagation on layer of small grained facets 13" off the ground (35cm) after the ECTX.
Below snowpit was on an east facing slope at 8,730'. This area had more wind packed snow and the snow near the ground under the dirt layer was damp. Total height of snow was 53" (135cm). There was a steeper slope with a cornice nearby that had some minor new snow sloughing, but was not an issue. This area of Monte Cristo has big flats with lots of snow available for transport and the east facing slopes have the potential to load quickly.

Below photo of new snow sloughing off of tracks on a steep east facing slope at 8,900'
Below photo of coverage on the road and snow in the trees at 9,000' in elevation
Today, we saw no signs of wind-drifting in the newest snow. We observed no cracking, collapsing, or whumpfing. The weak snow structure is still near the ground particularly in thinner, rockier north-east facing aspects in this zone.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Low
Coordinates