Observation: Uintas 12/30/2011

Observer Name:

Joe McFarlane, Ted Scroggin

Region:

Uintas

Observation Date:

12/30/2011

Location or Route:

Bald Mt., Murdock Pk.

Weather

Sky:

Few

Wind Direction:

Southwest

Wind Speed:

Moderate

Weather Comments:

Warm and windy today with a couple inches of new snow from yesterday. Gusty winds along the exposed ridgelines. Clouds moved in as the afternoon went on.

Snow Characteristics

New Snow Depth:

New Snow Density:

Medium

Snow Surface Conditions:

Powder

Faceted Loose

Wind Crust

Rain-Rime Crust

Snow Characteristic Comments:

Slightly damp snow at the trailhead with lighter less dense snow with elevation. We did observe a very thin rain/rime crust starting around 9,500' and still found it above 10,000'. A fair amount of graupel was observed which was getting moved around by gusty winds from the southwest.

Red Flags

Wind Loading

Cracking

Collapsing

Red Flag Comments:

In the higher wind exposed terrain we found fairly sensitive wind slabs that were cracking and releasing with our additional weight. These wind slabs were 10-12" deep, only 10-20' wide and likely failing on preserved weak faceted snow.

Primary Concern

Primary Concern:

Wind Slabs

Probability:

Moderate

Aspect:

North

Northeast

East

Elevation:

High

Mid

Trend:

More Dangerous

Primary Concern Comments:

With today's gusty winds and forecasted strong winds tonight these winds slabs should become a little more widespread, deeper and possibly more sensitive.

Secondary Concern

Secondary Concern:

Persistent Slabs

Probability:

Low

Aspect:

North

Northeast

East

Southeast

South

Southwest

West

Northwest

Elevation:

High

Mid

Trend:

Same

Secondary Concern Comments:

Strong winds forecasted for tonight and Saturday could overload the thin weak snow pack in the higher wind exposed terrrain.

snow_profile_location:

Comments - Photos - Videos (group 1)

We did observe this very thin rain/rime crust at most higher elevations. Possibly something to watch if it is preserved and buried in the snow pack?

Comments - Photos - Videos (group 2)

Stomping along the wind exposed terrrain, we were able to get a few small shallow wind slabs to fail. This one actually released from a slight distance away as we approached the wind drift.

Comments - Photos - Videos (group 3)

Observed Danger Rating:

Moderate

Forecast Danger Rating:

Moderate