Observation Date
1/20/2016
Observer Name
Joey Dempster
Region
Uintas » Bear River Ranger District » East fork of Bear
Location Name or Route
East fork bear river, deadman mountain
Weather
Sky
Obscured
Precipitation
Moderate Snowfall
Wind Direction
West
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Cold (teens for high) and windy. Lots of transport of the new snow.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
6"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments
6 inches of new snow in the East fork drainage, on top of about six inches from the previous storm.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Cracking
Collapsing
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
The area of the Uintas I observed today had numerous red flags. The snowpack is thin and weak compared to the Wasatch, with as little as two feet of snow in many spots. Some more sheltered areas have three to four feet. In all areas facets persist in the bottom foot of the snowpack and have not gained cohesion like in the Wasatch. The foot of snow that has fallen on the last few days has obviously burdened this weakness and collapses and cracking were common today. Also, fierce winds this morning and moderate winds all day moved a high volume of snow around and created many sensitive cornices and winds slabs. Many of those winds slabs rest not only on buried basal facets, but also more recent surface facets. Basically, the snowpack is a perfect mess here, and I kept slope angles under 30 today and will continue to do so tomorrow.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Problem #1 Comments
High winds and lots of snow to transport, weak underlying snow. Perfect recipe for wind slab avalanches.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Problem #2 Comments
Advanced, cohesionless facets at the base of the shallow snowpack are ubiquitous.
Comments
Example of widespread sensitive cornices today. This fracture propagated 50 feet. I expect this snow to still be sensitive tomorrow. Winds have died down so I don't expect hazard to increase, but it will remain likely to trigger avalanches on the facets both just under the new loaf and at the base of the snowpack, so I'm calling it considerable hazard.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
High
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable
