Observation Date
2/10/2015
Observer Name
Ted Scroggin
Region
Uintas » Mirror Lake Highway » Bald Mtn Pass
Location Name or Route
Bald Mountain-Hwy 150
Weather
Sky
Broken
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Felt a little more like winter today with low clouds, cooler temps and new snow, about 6" at the trailhead and a good 8" around Bald Mountain. Only light winds up on the pass while I was there mid-morning.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
8"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments
A nice little storm for the Uintas with some good medium density snow that has helped to fill things in and improve the riding and turning conditions.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Collapsing
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
I was only observing minor new snow and soft wind slabs up until this afternoon when I stumbled into a shallow weak snowpack area and triggered a small avalanche on a north facing slope on Bald Mountain. I don't think this is a widespread issue and a person would need to be in the right terrain with the right conditions for this avalanche problem to occur.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
I did observe some minor new snow sluffing in steep terrain and was anticipating some wet loose activity with the brief periods of sun, but the clouds kept the heat from coming on. I would expect tomorrow with more sun and warm, the new snow will be more prone to sluffing.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #2 Comments
Likely an isolated problem, but can't ignore today's small triggered slide in areas that still have a shallow weak snow pack, mainly in and around rocks.
Comments
Leaving the trailhead this morning, it looked more like winter with fresh snow and cooler temps.
Just minor new snow and soft slab issues today. The fresh wind slabs were pretty manageable, only cracking out around your sled and skis and not all that touchy. The new snow was only sluffing and not breaking into older snow.
Clouds kept moving in and out throughout the afternoon in the higher terrain around Bald Mountain.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
