Observation: Uintas

Observation Date
2/20/2021
Observer Name
Porter
Region
Uintas
Location Name or Route
Lake Creek
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Wind Loading
Poor Snowpack Structure
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
The last week's storm cycle snow has settled and is riding great, pretty supportable until you break through to the garbage near the ground. Not enough visibility to see any recent avalanches on this layer. Even though there are tracks all over the place on steeper hills, and the obvious signs of instability like cracking and collapsing are less frequent, we'll need to keep spreading the word about what's underneath. This is the type of setup that will let you get pretty far onto a slope before it collapses and slides, and the avalanches will be big.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #2 Comments
Moderate WNW winds today, more along the ridges than in the valleys. Easy to see scouring on the windward side and loading on the leeward side near the ridges, and some small cornices have broken recently. Got small pockets of visibility and saw some decent size cornices in the distance and what looks like debris.
Comments
Generally around 120cm HS in terrain traveled, with weak snow found near the ground everywhere we rode, generally between 9300'-10k'. Weather today was everything from in the clouds near whiteout to very brief moments of sun. Graupel and up to S1 snowfall from time to time, but not much accumulation, I don't think this part of the range got the 2-4" that was forecasted today, but there is definitely some snow to transport.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable
Coordinates