New snow instabilities observed on steep east facing slopes.

I traveled in mid elevation terrain on the north half of the compass today. Snowmobiling and ski conditions are excellent in that zone. I've been sticking to slope angles in the low 30's and under. With the supportable snowpack, the low angle skiing is fast and fun.

Lots of wind loading on Saturday and Sunday so watch for buried wind slabs on the north half of the compass in the wind zone. Cornices are growing!

In my pit stability tests it's easy to identify the persistent weak layers in the pack. Still finding preserved surface facets fromm the dry spell at the beginning of the month. Column tests fail with easy to moderate effort to fail on the new snow/old snow interface and all the persistent weaknesses down to the the December snow. Extended Columns were more stubborn and not propagating fully across the column. The January and December persistent weaknesses are getting deeper in the pack with each storm and are becoming more and more worrisome. Avalanches failing on these layers or stepping down to these layers would be catastrophic as seen by some of the recently triggered slides. You really get a false sense of security when you are walking, skiing or sledding on such a supportable snowpack. There are not many years in the Uintas where I can get out of my skis to dig a snowpit and not sink to my crotch. This is one of those years where I can. Also, there aren't signs of recent avalanches everywhere you look; this is deceptive.

Based on recent avalanches, what I have been seeing in my travels and what I have been seeing in my snowpits I don't think we are close to being out of the water. It's hard to not want to jump into steep terrain when there aren't a lot of visual signs to make you take a step back. Dig in the snow and see for yourself. Just read about the recent tragedies and close calls, it's sobering. Low angle is plenty fun right now, have fun and live another day. The forecast has been spot on, heed the warnings, the Uintas are sketchy right now.

If you're traveling in the wind zone in terrain lee of the recent winds or connected to that terrain you should fully expect to be dealing with avalanches. Out of the wind zone in steep terrain, considerable danger. Moderate to low elsewhere.