Observation: Powder Mountain Backcountry

This is a general snow profile, an average from several pits, and about the deepest. In general, the average snow pack was probably a bit shallower. The snow pack is similar to Salt Lake area mountains in structure, with a strong, right side up slab sitting on basal facets. The facets in general seemed a bit stronger, and they had gone through some sort of melt/freeze cycle near the ground in some locations, but the bonds of the basal frozen facets are now breaking down again, and becoming more loose.

Other thoughts:

From various observers, it seems the Ogden area mountains had a widespread natural avalanche cycle approximately from late Dec 21 into the 22nd; but no visibility for about 5 days and continued snow and wind made it hard to capture the event - both what slid and the timing.

I find it interesting that the rime crust was totally "eaten away" in this area, and gone (it would have been below the grauple layer). I wonder if that's the same throughout the Ogden area mountains.

With upcoming clear nights, I expect near surface faceting to occur - a future weak layer, possible sluffing/loose snow avalanches, too.

Slopes that slid are now "shallow snowpack" areas.

A trace to an inch or so of very low density fluff.  Surface snow weakening.