Observation: Uintas 12/23/2011

Observer Name:

Joe McFarlane, Ted Scroggin

Region:

Uintas

Observation Date:

12/23/2011

Location or Route:

Upper Whitney Basin, Double Hill

Weather

Sky:

Clear

Wind Direction:

Northeast

Wind Speed:

Moderate

Weather Comments:

A cold start on the north slope with -10F in Evanston and a balmy 4F at the tailhead.

Snow Characteristics

New Snow Depth:

New Snow Density:

Low

Snow Surface Conditions:

Powder

Dense Loose

Faceted Loose

Wind Crust

Snow Characteristic Comments:

It was nice to have a fesh layer of new snow, although not much of a storm. The rocks and stumps are slowly getting covered, but the weak faceted snow is still difficult to get a machine around in.

Red Flags

Wind Loading

Cracking

Collapsing

Red Flag Comments:

Winds were still gusty on the ridgetops and blowing quite hard on the high exposed terrain. More north and east winds continue to load unusual aspects.

Primary Concern

Primary Concern:

Wind Slabs

Probability:

Moderate

Aspect:

North

Northeast

East

Southwest

West

Northwest

Elevation:

High

Mid

Trend:

Same

Primary Concern Comments:

In our travels today we had a few collapses and cracking of recent wind deposited snow. Many of these drifts are sitting on weak faceted snow.

Secondary Concern

Secondary Concern:

Loose Snow/Sluffing

Probability:

Moderate

Aspect:

North

Northeast

East

Elevation:

High

Trend:

Same

Secondary Concern Comments:

We observed several new snow sluffs in steep exposed terrain.

snow_profile_location:

Comments - Photos - Videos (group 1)

Very strong east and north/east winds were drifting the new snow in the higher terrain.

Comments - Photos - Videos (group 2)

This natural shallow wind slab likely released on weak faceted snow that was the old snow surface.

Comments - Photos - Videos (group 3)

We did not see widespread shallow wind slabs, but those we did observe were on east and north/east aspects in steeper wind exposed terrain.

Observed Danger Rating:

Moderate

Forecast Danger Rating:

Moderate