Observation: Cutler Ridge

Observation Date
1/16/2026
Observer Name
Philip Burnett
Region
Ogden » Ben Lomond » Cutler Ridge
Location Name or Route
Cutler Ridge
Weather
Sky
Few
Wind Direction
South
Wind Speed
Calm
Weather Comments
Friday's weather was beautiful, with mostly clear skies and calm breezes below 8,000 ft.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Faceted Loose
Wind Crust
Melt-Freeze Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments

Along the skin track there were varying amounts of snow depth and surface conditions: S to SE with a growing melt-freeze crust, and from E to N increasing in the amount of protected surface facets. Above 7,500 there were also zones of wind affected snow.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Poor Snowpack Structure
Snow Profile
Aspect
Northwest
Elevation
7,900'
Slope Angle
20°
Comments

Snow was better than expected with plenty of surface facets to make turns on. Solar aspects are definitely shallower and firmer, but are generally easy to avoid. Lots of brush and near surface hazards.

At the upper elevations wind is definitely pushing snow around and even at 7,900 ft there was sastrugi developing on local windward aspects. My pit was dug in a deposition zone and most zones do not have a meter of snow.

Observed wet loose slide paths on the Ben Lomond headwall, but were uncertain of when they developed.

Today's Observed Danger Rating
Low
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Low
Coordinates