Light Snow, Light Wind and Cornices

 Magog Regions (1-19+21-06)

Even moderate winds can build substantial drifts with light Utah powder.  Hourly average wind-speeds recorded at the Campbell Scientific weather station on Logan Peak during the time this picture was taken on 1-19-06 were less than 10 mph from the north. 

If you look closely, you can see blown-in crown lines from natural wind slab avalanches on north facing, Castle Rock.  The avalanches probably occurred the afternoon of 1-18-06.

Prevailing westerly winds built these healthy cornices in the Magog area......

Big, overhanging cornices defy physics and can break farther back than you might expect.  A roped belay is a good idea if you want try and knock chunks off to test the slope below.

Cornices can be quite deceptive.  Near the summit of Magog you might not notice that the flat-topped cornice you're standing on is hanging over a big rocky void.

There are lots of big cornices this winter at high elevations in the Bear River Range. (1-19-06)