Observation: Cutler Ridge

Observation Date

11/29/2016

Observer Name

kory

Region

Ogden » Ben Lomond » Cutler Ridge

Location Name or Route

Cutler Ridge

Weather

Sky

Overcast

Precipitation

Light Snowfall

Wind Speed

Light

Weather Comments

Light and Variable winds, Much Much warmer than forcasted. Also just the lightist of snow falling from the sky.

Snow Characteristics

New Snow Depth

20"

New Snow Density

Low

Snow Surface Conditions

Powder

Red Flags

Heavy Snowfall

Poor Snowpack Structure

Red Flags Comments

Poor SNow pack structure?

Avalanche Problem #1

Problem

Persistent Weak Layer

Trend

Same

Problem #1 Comments

See Below

Avalanche Problem #2

Problem

Normal Caution

Trend

Same

Snow Profile

Aspect

Northeast

Elevation

8,100'

Slope Angle

20°

Comments

Up to my favorite stomping grounds today. This is some of the best low elevation coverage we have had in years for the Ogden Mountains. Temperatures are on the rise now so I think we might loose a lot of that low elevation base. I must say, I am much more uncertain about the weak layers than I had thought before. Talking to others I am not sure how widespread or where you might be able to trigger these or currently what the chances of the slab being that large or well connected. Time will only tell with more snow. I still think you need to find a smooth vegetation surface or geologic surface for these persistent slabs to be a problem. So who ever has done there homework and been out and about in the summer will be able to avoid these slopes more easily.

Meat and Potatoes, So the snowpack in the Ogden Mountains in the Ben Lomond area is looking pretty good. Somewhere in the 60-70cm range at 8,000 ft. There are two graupel layers within that. One near the top and one mid snowpack. These graupel layers were un-reactive in ECT and Ct tests due to no slab sitting on top. They were reactive in shovel tilt tests and we will just track them. I am guessing with warming temps they will disappear and become more un reactive over time. When it comes to the persistent weak layer I do not think that this layer is from the October snows here in Ogden. The bottom 14cm of snow on the ground is frozen solid (Knife/Pencil Hardness). The layer of concern I believe is from our night before thanksgiving storm. (November 22). This was able to facet over the 4 days of warm days and cool clear nights here in the Ogden Valley. These facets are still very small in the 2mm range. This weak layer as well as the slick bed surface from our frozen October storms is creating failure in snow pit tests. I am very unsure of how that will correlate to actual avalanches in the Ogden mountains. Like I keep saying I think this needs to be on a smooth summer surface.

Pit Results CT10,SP CT9,SP ECTP11 SP ECTP10 SP both at 8,000 ft NE aspect

More North aspect 7,800 Ft ECTP15 RP and ECTP13 RP

1. Snow profile

2. What the failure grains looked like (sorry not detailed)

3. Snow surface in Ogden Mountains

4. Failure again. Ct9 SP and Ct10 SP

5. Video ECTP11 SP, Also had an ECT10 SP and in a different location ECTP15 Resistant Planer

This is the weak layer from the Nov 22 storm that sat until Sundays BIG DUMP