Observation: Cutler Ridge

Brandon Dubovik

Ogden » Ben Lomond » Cutler Ridge

Cutler Ridge

Wanted to go out and provide some beta for Ogden riders on current conditions. Took quite a few pictures to show current state of the snowpack in the Cutler Ridge/Ben Lomond area. I did not dig any pits as I found Nikki Champion/Drew Hardesty's observation yesterday as a good reference point for what you'll find around the Ogden mountains. Trailhead temps were warm today. Started off in my base layer and did not add any layers until about 8,500'. Once above 8,500' a cold N-NE wind brought temps into the 20's with wind chill being much colder than that. 6,999' and below: Not a lot of snow on any side of the compass. The biggest danger you have is open streams and intense bushwhacks. Best to make sure your exit plans do not take you off a summer trail at this elevation. 7,000' - 8,500': Almost on the dot, the snow quickly builds at 7,000' and it looks and feels like winter on Cutler Ridge. South faces held damp snow, but no crusts making it feel like spring skiing. N thru wind protected E faces held dry punchy snow. This is where wind affect was starting to become apparent. Not much down low, but quickly showed more signs of wind transport as you moved up. 8,500' and up: Snow changed again to become very firm. Sastrugi, boiler plate ice, wind drifts were all present on Ben Lomond's shoulder. Winds were blowing strong from the north, but there is very little snow to transport. True north held the best snow, while NW and NE aspects suffered from wind buff. There is a lot of cross loading present along the headwall. Picture 1: Birthday Bowls showing the low snowpack below 7,000' Picture 2: Refrigerator canyon showing the low snowpack on a N face Picture 3: Black Canyon south with signs of rapid warming Picture 4: Rodeo Ridge with good skiing up high, but bushy down low Picture 5: Willard South face with signs of past warming Picture 6: Ben Lomond Headwall with apparent cross loading Picture 7: Ben Lomond Headwall with cross loading Picture 8: Appears to have been two riders descending the headwall only to find pockets of wind slab that led to them cross cutting the entire slope. I hadn't noticed until I was reviewing my photos. It appears they did release a good size wind slab, but were able to safely exit. I do not recall any reports of an avalanche and would be interested to know more about what they were experiencing with the snow.

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