Observation: Aspen Grove

We went out today hoping to get a better sense of coverage in the Provo area and was optimistic it might have improved since my last visit a month ago. Unfortunately, I was wrong. The snowpack looked pretty similar, with depths ranging from zero to about 40–50 cm at mid-elevations, made up almost entirely of facets. The upper 10 cm was damp in most places, but did find an impressively preserved layer of surface hoar (3–8 mm) outside of wind-affected zones. Even with such an obvious weak layer, the tests didn’t produce any results because the upper 10 cm wasn’t cohesive enough at this point.

We didn’t get much into the upper elevations because travel was tough, but I’d guess the snowpack up there has a similar structure, maybe with more of a slab from the stronger winds and higher snow totals during the last storm. NW Aspect - 80870' - Damp snow sitting atop of preserved surface hoar and facets

Perserved surface hoar within snowpack

General Coverage Photos:

The snow surface was very damp—or absent entirely—in most traveled areas. I was in this same region on November 22, and snow coverage has not noticeably improved. Existing snow has become more faceted in shaded areas, while southerly aspects have almost completely melted out to dirt. Much of the road and trail into Bob's Knob was also dirt. Hiking boots would have been the better choice again today.

 

In areas that still held snow, the surface remained damp up to at least 8,500 feet, likely higher given today’s air temperatures. While we didn’t travel into the upper elevations, shaded slopes in those areas are likely  holding faceted loose snow at the surface—assuming the surface hasn’t been affected by warm air temperatures or direct sun exposure.

Very wet - bring skin wax