Observation: Ogden Mountains

• Snow pit at 8,400', on a NNW facing slope. (Photo Below) I feel like this is a fairly representative pit of the mid elevations, though this was my first day in the Ogden area mountains. Weakest layer was the facets that formed during the late November dry spell, with the snow from the last two storms creating the slab. Many areas also had a 6" wind slab on top.
• There is also a facet layer near the ground, and while tests weren't failing on this layer yesterday, I would continue to dig to the ground. I still think that the basal facets could be a player in the future, or even in isolated areas now.
• Snow pack layering and depth were more similar to the Salt Lake mountains than I expected.

Interesting layering on a lower elevation NNW facing slope - 7,300'. (Photo Below) A significantly weak layer of facets sitting on a hard, melt/freeze crust. A classic weak layer/bed surface combo, with a just a thinner slab on top at the moment. Multiple hand and pole pits had it popping out on this layer, on isolation or with a light tug. Again, the slab is the snow from the most recent two storms.

While there may not be too many "big" avalanche paths at this elevation, it has me thinking about low elevation terrain traps, such as creek beds androad banks cuts where even a small slide could stack up a bigger pile of debris.

Lots of wind damage, upper and mid elevations, with breakable medium to hard slabs, with a very few hard-to-find patches of soft powder mixed in.