Observation: Cutler Ridge

Observation Date

1/6/2026

Observer Name

Gagne

Region

Ogden » Ben Lomond » Cutler Ridge

Location Name or Route

Ben Lomond - Cutler Ridge

Weather

Sky

Broken

Wind Direction

Southwest

Wind Speed

Moderate

Weather Comments

Gusty winds above 7,000' with some minor drifting.

Snow Characteristics

Snow Surface Conditions

Powder

Wind Crust

Snow Characteristics Comments

The Ben Lomond region did quite well in the Jan 4/5 storm with 60 cms (2') of settled storm snow and nearly 3" of water. The road and low elevations are passable with 5-10 cms depth near the trailhead, 30 cms depth at 7,000', and once you reach 7,500' depths quickly increase with 60 cms at 7,500' and over a 100 cms above 8,000'. On a wind-loaded slope above the weather station at 7,800' I measured snow depths of 160 cms.

Above 7,500' there is generally 60 cms of storm snow above the New Years Rain Crust

Avalanche Problem #1

Problem

Wind Drifted Snow

Trend

Increasing Danger

Problem #1 Comments

There are recent and new wind drifts above 7,000' although they were mostly unreactive to ski cuts and other stability tests. The only interesting result I got was on a wind-loaded slope above the weather station at 7,800' with ECTP21 x2 failing on a layer of graupel down 35 cms.

With increasing winds, the trend for this problem is also increasing.

Avalanche Problem #2

Problem

Persistent Weak Layer

Problem #2 Comments

I only made it to 8,500' where the faceted snow down near the ground was damp, 1F-hard and continuing to gain strength. But I'm unsure of upper elevations where some weaker facets and depth hoar may still be present.

Snow Profile

Aspect

Northeast

Elevation

8,200'

Comments

The Christmas and New Year rain events sealed up the snowpack making it supportable, and the Jan 4/5 storm finally put down some snow at low elevations making travel easier. Below 7,500' it is still a challenge, but things change quite a bit above that elevation with a snowpack generally about a meter deep (3-4 feet) on a very supportable base which makes for easy travel and riding.

Between 7,500 and 8,500' the New Years Rain Crust (NYRC) has a layer of graupel and I was able to get some clean shears right above the NYRC, but I also saw some evidence of weaker crystals and will watch for possible faceting above this crust.

Overall, I saw a strong snowpack with no discernable weak layers other than some graupel layers that fell during recent storms. Graupel is not a PWL and will heal more quickly. Going forward, I'll focus on:

- possible faceting above NYRC layer

- PWL above 8,500'

Photos:

- Road conditions at North Fork Park TH

- Snowpits as I gained elevation

- Toward Willard

- Bailey Springs Trees

And a video showing the Ben Lomond headwall toward Willard