Obs-Snow Profile: Uintas 2/12/2011

Observer Name:

Ted Scroggin

Region:

Uintas

Observation Date:

02/12/2011

Location or Route:

Mill Creek Drainage, Catarack Basin

Weather

Sky:

Few

Wind Direction:

Southwest

Wind Speed:

Light

Weather Comments:

A few high clouds, but mostly clear and nice. Light winds from the southwest moving a little bit of the weak surface snow.

Snow Characteristics

Snow Surface Conditions:

Dense Loose

Faceted Loose

Wind Crust

Snow Characteristic Comments:

Generally very nice riding conditions, some wind crusts along ridgelines and sun crusted slopes on the south aspects.

Red Flags

Red Flag Comments:

No red flags observed, but the snow pack structure continues to be of interest with a persistent weak layer that is still active in snow pits and avalanches failing on this layer.

Primary Concern

Primary Concern:

Persistent Slabs

Probability:

Moderate

Aspect:

North

Northeast

East

Northwest

Elevation:

Mid

Trend:

Same

Secondary Concern

Secondary Concern:

Wind Slabs

Probability:

Moderate

Aspect:

North

Northeast

East

Southeast

Elevation:

High

Trend:

Less Dangerous

Elevation:

10800'

Aspect:

Northwest

Slope Angle:

snow_profile_location:

Comments - Photos - Videos (group 1)

Riders have really been getting after it with tracks in much of the bigger terrain.

Comments - Photos - Videos (group 2)

The snow pack on the east side of the district which is often times thinner and weaker is fairly deep, but the buried surface hoar continues to produce high energy shears.

Comments - Photos - Videos (group 3)

Today's heat produced a few small wet sluffs on east aspects that orginated from the warming rocks.

Observed Danger Rating:

Moderate

Forecast Danger Rating:

Moderate