Observation: Uintas 3/16/2010

Observer Name:

Ted Scroggin/Grant Helgeson

Region:

Uintas

Observation Date:

03/16/2010

Location or Route:

Whitney Basin, Super Bowl, Windy Peak Ridgeline, Humpy Creek

Weather

Sky:

Scattered

Wind Direction:

Southwest

Wind Speed:

Light

Weather Comments:

A very mild day in the Uintas with a very shallow refreeze overnight at the higher elevations and still quite cold in the mornings at the trailhead. Light winds and scattered clouds kept the heat from getting out of hand.

Snow Characteristics

Snow Surface Conditions:

Dense Loose

Wind Crust

Melt-Freeze Crust

Damp

Snow Characteristic Comments:

At the upper elevations on the high northerly aspects snow conditions are still soft settled powder where the recent strong winds have not hammered away at it, while sun exposed slopes have become damp and crusted.

Red Flags

Wind Loading

Rapid Warming

Primary Concern

Primary Concern:

Wind Slabs

Probability:

Moderate

Aspect:

North

Northeast

West

Northwest

Elevation:

High

Mid

Trend:

Less Dangerous

Primary Concern Comments:

It might still be possible to find a lingering wind slab with some energy left in it along the ridgelines, but for the most part things appear to have settled out.

Secondary Concern

Secondary Concern:

Wet Avalanches

Probability:

Moderate

Aspect:

East

Southeast

South

Southwest

Elevation:

Mid

Low

Trend:

Same

Secondary Concern Comments:

This mornings shallow refreeze at the upper elevations and another forecasted warm day tomorrow will continue to weaken the snow pack with the possibility of wet avalanches more likely.

snow_profile_location:

Comments - Photos - Videos (group 1)

We came across this snowmobile triggered soft slab avalanche that is a day or two old in the Super Bowl on a northeast aspect. It looks as though surface hoar was the weak layer.

Comments - Photos - Videos (group 2)

UAC forecaster Grant Helgeson is checking-out one of the flanks where the snow is very weak and thin around the trees- a possible trigger point.

Comments - Photos - Videos (group 3)

A shallow natural wind slab that ooccurred possibly during the weekends storm with very strong winds.

Comments - Photos - Videos (group 4)

Another small natural wind slab avalanche, but this one ran to the ground which continues to show there is the possibility of slides breaking into weak snow near the ground.

Observed Danger Rating:

Moderate

Forecast Danger Rating:

Moderate