Observation: Uintas 2/4/2012

Observer Name:

Ted Scroggin

Region:

Uintas

Observation Date:

02/04/2012

Location or Route:

Gold Hill

Weather

Sky:

Few

Wind Direction:

Southeast

Wind Speed:

Light

Weather Comments:

Nice day throughout the range with increasing clouds late this afternoon and slightly cool temperatures.

Snow Characteristics

Snow Surface Conditions:

Powder

Faceted Loose

Snow Characteristic Comments:

Mid and higher elevation snow feels quite supportive under the sled with some riders testing steeper slopes with no results. However, one just needs to dig down and see how weak and unsupportive the snow near the ground is.

Red Flags

Cracking

Collapsing

Red Flag Comments:

In untraveled areas the snow pack continues to collapse under the weight of a rider with cracks still visible around a riders machine.

Primary Concern

Primary Concern:

Deep Slabs

Probability:

Considerable

Aspect:

North

Northeast

East

Southeast

West

Northwest

Elevation:

High

Mid

Trend:

Same

Primary Concern Comments:

As a fellow worker mentioned today as we were breaking trail and hearing our first loud collapse, " is it always like this out here" ?

snow_profile_location:

Observed Danger Rating:

Considerable

Forecast Danger Rating:

Considerable