Observation Date
12/27/2016
Observer Name
Brian Smith
Region
Ogden » North Ogden Canyon
Location Name or Route
north ogden pass area to 8000 ft.
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Wind Direction
Northwest
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
No wind in the woods, only briefly went on the ridge to see the wind slab
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
12"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments
Nice light density snow in the protected areas makes for fun fast turning, firm and hollow wind crust on the exposed areas.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Collapsing
Red Flags Comments
wind slab collapsing in weak layer under the rain crust
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
I did not spend a lot of time on the ridges but the wind slabs were sensitive
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
New Snow
Problem #2 Comments
The 12 inches of new snow is sitting on grauple (photo) which is sitting on the rain crust. The problem is the fist density snow below the rain crust. (photo) This failed consistently at ECT 13 with high quality propagation in pits from 7K-8K.
Comments
1. grauple on the ice/rain crust
2. Fist density snow under the crust (layer of failure)
3. Wind slab
My observation of moderate conditions is for the wind protected areas in the woods. I believe the wind slab areas on the ridges are considerable though.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
