Man... it's been a windy winter. The past few days were no different as west and northwest winds blew steadily along the ridges, averaging in the 20's and 30's with gusts in the low 40's. For the Uinta's, this is the perfect wind speed threshold that moves lots of snow around, depositing it on leeward slopes, forming an evenly distributed slab. With plenty of light density snow to work with, fresh drifts sensitive to the additional weight of a rider are today's most obvious avalanche concern. While todays wind slabs might not be quite as reactive as the past few days, they still have the possibility to break deeper and wider than you might expect. Steep, wind drifted slopes, especially those with an easterly component to their aspect should be considered suspect, particularly if they appear fat and rounded or sound hollow like a drum. Gathering information as you travel today. Tweak some small test slopes and road cuts and see how they're reacting before charging into big, committing terrain..

Even the trailhead parking lot can give you clues to the avalanche conditions. Winds were howling while I was at Nobletts yesterday working on the beacon checker. In a matter of about 15 minutes this piece of cornice broke off on a wind loaded slope located to the west of the parking lot. Great info to tell me leeward slopes are rapidly loading.

Shooting cracks in front of your skis, board, or sled are a huge clue to wind loaded slopes and unstable snow.

Winds continue to change the landscape on the eastern front and they're starting to overload weak snow formed during the January dryspell. The January facets appear to be this seasons problem child. While they're comfortable in their own skin in some locations, in others they're like a teenager trying to figure themselves out. Sure they kinda know who they are, but fly off the handle pretty easily once provoked.

Strong snow on weak snow... it's what the Uinta's are famous for. Unfortunately, it's also this combination that leads to tricky avalanche conditions. The strong snow will allow us to get well out onto the slope before it fails and we trigger a deep, dangerous slide. A wild card in the deck is the possibility of triggering a slide mid slope or on your approach from the bottom. Best way to combat this condition is with terrain management. Tone down you're objectives a notch or two and consider the consequences of triggering a slide.