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Observation: Uintas

Observation Date
12/1/2018
Observer Name
Weston Deutschlander
Region
Uintas
Location Name or Route
Smith Moorehouse
Weather
Sky
Few
Wind Speed
Calm
Weather Comments
Great day out in the mountains. Plenty of sunshine, could feel the solar crust at lower elevations even on the machine. Not even a hint of wind.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Consolidated snowpack on top of some garbage.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
~70cm of a consolidated pack on top of facets. Ground level had some rounding depth hoar/saturated and then frozen depth hoar. On top of that was some VERY weak facets.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Normal Caution
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
Even with 85cm HS, there are still a lot of rocks, logs and other buried treasure waiting to make you have a bad day if not careful.
Snow Profile
Aspect
North
Elevation
9,800'
Slope Angle
23°
Comments
The lower 13cm of the snowpack was a near ice/knife hardness that appeared to be rounding depth hoar (see below).
Directly above the ground layer, was the layer of concern. 3mm facets that just poured out.
Video
Today's Observed Danger Rating
High
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
High