Observation Date
1/19/2025
Observer Name
Trenbeath
Region
Ogden » Ben Lomond » Cutler Ridge
Location Name or Route
Cutler Ridge to Bailey Cabin area
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Wind Direction
Northwest
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Cold with mostly cloudy and overcast skies but with occasional patches of blue. Light to moderate WNW winds.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
4"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Wind Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
I found mostly wind affected surfaces in exposed areas and sun crusts on southerly aspects. Soft snow was found on wind sheltered, northerly aspects.
Alternating wind affected surfaces with areas of soft snow along Cutler Ridge.
We found mostly soft snow and decent turning in the Bailey Cabin area in the left background of the photo but the wind had still affected it somewhat, especially near the top. Foreground is sun and wind crust.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
I observed evidence of wind loading on north through east through southeast aspects. At mid elevations below 8500' this presented as thin and isolated, non-reactive wind slabs. Whatever sensitivity they had yesterday was gone. Above 8500' on the north face of Ben Lomond, and even wrapping around to SE on Willard, I could see deeper drifts on the leeward sides of terrain features that I still wouldn't want to mess with. This is an upper elevation problem. The poor snowpack structure wasn't actually all that poor. More on that below.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Problem #1 Comments
On mid elevation north through easterly aspects I found non-reactive, isolated thin slabs of wind drifted snow.
Above 8500' I observed drifted slopes on SE facing Willard Peak through N facing Ben Lomond. These are the areas where I still have some concern.
The north face of Ben Lomond was alternately scoured and cross-loaded from WNW winds. Plenty of deep drifts visible on the leeward sides of terrain features.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
I've been following the PWL problems in the Wasatch from afar and this was my first time in the field in the Ogden area this season. I dug mid slope in the Bailey's Cabin area on a NE aspect at 8220'. What I found wasn't very alarming although I'd need a few more samples to feel confident. HS (Height of Snow or depth) was 145 cms. I probed depths of 165 cms slightly higher up in a wind loaded area. Generally speaking, the pack was very strong with the mid-pack consisting of 1f hardness. Rounding basal facets at 4f+ to 4f made up the bottom 50 cms of the snowpack. In this location, you would be hard pressed to trigger an avalanche.
My current assessment is that you could still trigger an avalanche involving slabs of wind drifted snow above 8500' on slopes facing N-NE-E-SE. I think that avalanches involving a persistent weak layer of basal facets are unlikely, but not impossible in shallow snowpack areas, or in extreme terrain.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
None
Coordinates
