Quick report
- Aspect
- Northeast
- Red Flags
- Wind Loading, Poor Snowpack Structure
- Elevation
- 2774 m
- Slope Angle
- 26°
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>The weak snow that makes up the majority of the snowpack will pose a problem once buried by our next significant storm, whenever that may be. Slopes with coverage right now are the most likely to have persistent issues once winter arrives. </p>
Willard Peak from Ben Lomond.
Looking south along the divide from Ben Lomond.
Slopes off the north side of Ben Lomond, near 9700', followed by general coverage working back south along the divide.
A sign that things aren't always as they seem, nor as we want—but they still can be sweet. We may be waiting on winter, but there's no excuse not to enjoy the hills in the meantime.
Snowpack
Heading up from the N. Ogden Divide Trailhead to see how far we could get, patchy intermittent snow started near 7400'. Consistent coverage, though disconnected by plants, started near 8300', with 4-5 in of mostly faceted snow underlying a .25-.5 in wind crust on exposed ridgelines. Old snow can be found above 8300', with larger deposits lingering on E-NE-N slopes above 8700'.
As I made my way to the base of Ben Lomond along the ridge, snow coverage increased to 12". Heading up the slope, I found 2-4 in thick old unreactive wind deposits on N-NE-E aspects overlying 12-20" of faceted snow (see hasty profile photo). With the deposits being only moderately supportable, and at 5'2" tall, this made for some fun uphill training. We would have appreciated some skis on our feet!
Along the ridgeline from Ben Lomond to Willard, this same structure and effortful travel persisted—leading us to call it at the saddle, and head home for some Thanksgiving dinner.