Observation: Uintas

Observation Date
12/5/2018
Observer Name
Ben B
Region
Uintas
Location Name or Route
duchesne ridge
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Wind Loading
Poor Snowpack Structure
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
Weak base facets are starting to consolidate, but triggering a slide on the ground facets would be dire.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Cornice
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
Wind loading creating cornice drops leading to small natural avalanches.
Snow Profile
Aspect
Northwest
Elevation
9,800'
Comments
Beautiful day on the ridge, can't believe we can still drive to such great snow conditions. Dug a pit and found 105 cm snow depth with a layer at 40 cm that would step down to the ground facets with skier compression test. High snow quality if you stuck to low angle terrain. Loads of snowmobile tracks on the south facing slopes but no tracks along the ridge line and in mellow north northwest facing terrain. Noticed 2 cornice breaks that broke to the 40 cm layer but not steep enough terrain to propagate. Was surprised to find the ground facets healing only the top 1/4 were still sugary and loose. The ground layer had consolidated.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable
Coordinates