Observation: Uintas 11/9/2011

Observer Name:

Ted Scroggin

Region:

Uintas

Observation Date:

11/09/2011

Location or Route:

Whitney Basin

Weather

Sky:

Few

Wind Direction:

Southeast

Wind Speed:

Light

Weather Comments:

Mostly clear with a few high clouds and light winds.

Snow Characteristics

Snow Surface Conditions:

Faceted Loose

Wind Crust

Melt-Freeze Crust

Snow Characteristic Comments:

A wide range of snow conditions, typical of early season. Lower elevations are either bare or have some kind of a melt freeze crust mostly on the more sun exposed slopes. Shady and north facing aspects have snow depths ranging from a few inches to a foot for the highest elevations.

Primary Concern

Primary Concern:

Loose Snow/Sluffing

Probability:

Low

Aspect:

North

Northeast

East

Elevation:

High

Mid

Trend:

Same

Primary Concern Comments:

Not much going on at the present time however, the surface conditions on the shady aspects at the higher elevations have very weak loose snow. Once it begins snowing the snowpack will have a difficult time adjusting to the added weight.

snow_profile_location:

Comments - Photos - Videos (group 1)

A look around the Whitney Basin, south facing slopes are nearly bare of snow and the northerly facing slopes have snow depths ranging from a few inches to around a foot.

Comments - Photos - Videos (group 2)

Things look white, but the coverage is still thin. Many rocks and hazards are just barely covered and the snowpack is mostly comprised of weak early season snow.

Comments - Photos - Videos (group 3)

The snowpack is a series of crusts with weak snow in between. You can clearly track the sequence of weather events over the last month and a half. Once it really starts snowing, it will be interesting to see how this snowpack will adjust to the added weight.

Observed Danger Rating:

Low

Forecast Danger Rating:

Low