Observation: Mirror Lake Highway

Observation Date
2/18/2013
Observer Name
Ted Scroggin
Region
Uintas
Location Name or Route
Bald Mt, Hwy 150
Weather
Sky
Clear
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Mostly clear this morning with single digit temperatures warming-up to the high twenties. High thin clouds this afternoon and light to calm winds.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
3"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Dense Loose
Faceted Loose
Wind Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
Just a few new inches of snow from yesterday's quick passing front. Last weeks winds have really got to much of the terrain in the Bald Mt and Hwy 150 corridor. Sheltered areas still have some decent settled snow.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Cracking
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
No immediate red flags observed in my travels today. Some isolated and somewhat relaxed wind slabs in exposed areas. With some coaxing some of these soft wind slabs would crack out in the 10-12" wide range and they did not really want to slide very far. These appeared to be mostly manageable unless you are in unforgiving terrain.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
Some isolated soft wind slabs 10-12" deep on north and northeast facing slopes. These needed some coaxing and did not appear to be unmanageable.
Comments
Stomping around on this small safe test slope, I was finally able to get a small soft slab 10-12" deep to crack and sluff. These were manageable in size and did not pose much threat, unless a person was in steep and unforgiving terrain.
The upper elevation terrain around Bald Mt. has filled in some over the winter, but there are still some rocks showing. In the second photo the aprons underneath Reid's Pk. have some old debris from the last natural avalanche cycle.