Observation: Uintas 12/6/2011

Observer Name:

Ted Scroggin

Region:

Uintas

Observation Date:

12/06/2011

Location or Route:

Bald Mt., Murdock Peak

Weather

Sky:

Few

Wind Direction:

Northwest

Wind Speed:

Light

Weather Comments:

Chilly day on the north slope, Lily Lake and Trial Lake wx sites both reporting minus readings in the teens. You surely wanted the hand warmers turned on high.

Snow Characteristics

Snow Surface Conditions:

Powder

Dense Loose

Faceted Loose

Wind Crust

Snow Characteristic Comments:

Quite the variety of snow conditions with some resemblance of powder in areas and rock hard wind blasted snow in other places. Still difficult to feel relaxed if you venture off the packed trail too far, as rocks and stumps are now easily found with lots of weak unconsolidated snow covering them.

Primary Concern

Primary Concern:

Wind Slabs

Probability:

Moderate

Aspect:

North

Northeast

East

Elevation:

High

Trend:

Less Dangerous

Primary Concern Comments:

You would probably have to go out of your way to find a few of these wind slabs that are somewhat sensitive to the weight of a person. It's difficult right now to get into much of the steeper terrain where you might find a wind slab that would fail.

Secondary Concern

Secondary Concern:

Persistent Slabs

Probability:

Low

Aspect:

North

Northeast

East

Northwest

Elevation:

High

Mid

Trend:

Same

Secondary Concern Comments:

Not much change in the conditions out there, but the snow pack continues to grow weaker with the current weather pattern.

snow_profile_location:

Comments - Photos - Videos (group 1)

The snow pack just gets weaker each day as these natural surface sluffs indicate.

Comments - Photos - Videos (group 2)

Comments - Photos - Videos (group 3)

With so much rocky terrain and thin snow coverage, a person would have to work hard to find these wind slabs that needed a little help before they failed. I was able to get this one to release on a small safe test slope. It was a 1finger hard slab, 10-12" deep and the weak layer was light density snow that fell over the weekend and recent strong winds deposited a nice stiff slab on top.

Comments - Photos - Videos (group 4)

Observed Danger Rating:

Low

Forecast Danger Rating:

Low