Observation Date
1/21/2025
Observer Name
Derek DeBruin
Region
Ogden » Ben Lomond » Rodeo Ridge
Location Name or Route
Ben Lomond, Rodeo Ridge
Weather
Weather Comments
Felt every bit of -6F at the trailhead this morning around 0730. Calm, under partly cloudy skies. Above 7400ft wind was present, really turning on by 0900. Winds were out of the west, sustained on the low side of moderate, gusting to strong regularly. Large snow vortices--dozens of feet wide, 100 feet tall--crossed the open slopes every few minutes. Snow was being transported, to say the least.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Characteristics Comments
Snow surface had a surprisingly thick (a couple inches) unsupportive crust in the low elevation solars up to 6300ft or so. Otherwise, dense loose on top in the low elevation polars. The snow surface showed all the signs of wind affects by 7400ft or so, variably crusty, scoured to ice, rippled, thin sastrugi, etc. There were pockets of preserved soft snow in the mid elevations, but finding them required knowing where to look. Didn't note any surface faceting just yet in my travels today, but I'm sure that's to come sooner than later for the Rodeo Ridge zone.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Red Flags Comments
Had a couple very small pockets of 1-2 inch wind slab break out underfoot while skinning due to wind loading, sliding on underlying ice that was caused by prior wind scouring; hardly alarming. However, it was a short tour this morning, so I can't attest to anything that may have developed in the afternoon. What was more concerning was simply the wind transported snow. Streamers and rooster tails were present along the entire ridgeline from Chilly Peak to Ben Lomond, reaching down from the ridges well into the terrain on open slopes. Snow was being moved at least at low as 7000ft on Rodeo Ridge, and somewhat higher on Cutler.
Comments
Current coverage on the Chilly Peak slabs. Lots of texture in the snow from past point releases and wind-driven crossloading. If I were desperate to find a reaction from the basal PWL, I'd probably look there.
A sample of the variable mid-elevation snow surface: scoured down to ice, wind affected, lots of tracks, a dash of soft snow.
Wind plumes off the summit of Ben Lomond. Similar things were happening on Chilly Peak and every point on the ridgeline between the two.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
None
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
None
Coordinates
