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Observation: Whitney Basin

Observation Date
3/15/2016
Observer Name
Ted Scroggin
Region
Uintas » Bear River Ranger District » Whitney Basin
Location Name or Route
Whitney Basin-Double Hill
Weather
Sky
Obscured
Precipitation
Moderate Snowfall
Wind Direction
West
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Nice to see winter return with cool temperatures riding out of the trailhead this morning and snowing all day with light to moderate snow fall and a few inches accumulated during the day.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
12"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments
A decent shot of snow for the north slope, the trailhead had about 6" and a solid foot of new light density snow in the upper Whitney Basin.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Cracking
Red Flags Comments
I was finding sensitive soft wind slabs just off the ridgelines that were breaking about 10-12" deep, these were quite manageable and once you got below the ridgeline the slab was no longer an issue. I did not push my luck in steep terrain today, partly due to the poor visibility and feeling like you were in a snow globe all day.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
The wind slabs I was finding on the northerly facing slopes were a little sensitve most of the day, but the winds began to slowly back-off late in the afternoon, but I could still hear the wind blowing quite hard on the high exposed terrain.
Comments
A nice solid foot of light density snow in the upper Whitney Basin and in some places the conditions rode more like 14-16". It was a cold winter day with cool temperatures, winds and over the hood riding.
The wind slabs along the north facing ridgelines would break about 10-12" deep, but did not want to really move much. One you got down below the ridge there was not much of an issue. These conditions were quite manageable if you were aware of the terrain you were riding in. I'm sure you could find these wind slabs to be deeper and wider if you pushed into steeper slopes and where the wind was blowing harder.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate