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Observation: Gold Hill

Observation Date
2/18/2022
Observer Name
Ted Scroggin
Region
Uintas » Gold Hill
Location Name or Route
Gold Hill
Weather
Sky
Scattered
Wind Direction
Northwest
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
A cloudy start to the day, but lots of sunshine this afternoon and generally mild to slightly cool temperatures and light northwest winds.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
8"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Wind Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
A nice little storm for the Uintas with around 8" in Gold Hill and about 5-6" at the trail head. The new snow was pretty light density and helped to cover the old tracks, but did not soften the ride a whole lot as I was feeling many old sled tracks.
Red Flags
Red Flags Comments
No current red flags, but might be a few lingering wind slabs that are still possible in the wind zone. I did find some wind drifted snow that would crack out, but did not seem to have much energy to them.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Normal Caution
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
I went with normal caution as the new snow did not change the landscape all that much, although there is the possibility of some wind slabs in the high exposed terrain and some sluffing of the new snow. I found these wind slabs to be shallow but a little on the firm side and did not have much energy left in them.
Comments
A little refresh of new snow with about 8-9" in the Gold Hill area that did cover old tracks, but still a little rough under the light density snow.
1. The new light density did not have much weight to it, but on this east facing slope with a little morning sun the new snow took on some heat and sluffed easily entraining the old weak snow underneath. I was surprised how it stacked up against the trees at the bottom and would be enough to push a person around.
2. A few shallow wind slabs cracked out along the ridge line and sluffed out the old weak surface snow, not a big issue in this location, but would be in steep terrain.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Low
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Low
Coordinates