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Observation: Whitney Basin-Double Hill

Observation Date
1/14/2023
Observer Name
Ted Scroggin
Region
Uintas » Whitney Basin-Double Hill
Location Name or Route
Whitney Basin-Double Hill
Weather
Sky
Broken
Wind Direction
South
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Partly to mostly cloudy for most of the day with some brief periods of sunshine and gusty south winds on the ridges.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Dense Loose
Wind Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
The south winds today were starting to change the landscape with many open areas getting worked over creating some stiff wind drifted snow. But still great settled powder in protected places and lots of riders were enjoying good snow and lots of it.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Red Flags Comments
Just went with the wind drifted snow today where I traveled. I did observe one rider trigger a shallow wind drift on the east side of Double Hill.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
There were quite strong and gusty south winds today and no shortage of soft loose snow on the surface to blow into shallow wind drifts that were getting sensitive as the day went on.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Comments
A fairly busy day out in the Whitney Basin with lots of riders getting after it and enjoying some great snow.
Noticed this fairly recent natural avalanche on a steep northeast facing slope in the east Moffit area. This terrain gets wind loaded from both south and northwest winds and this is a decent piece of connected snow.
Some riders triggered this shallow fresh wind slab on Double Hill and not much of an issue for a person on a sled. I would think these wind drifts and soft slabs and getting a little deeper and more connected with steady winds which this end of Double Hill catches a lot of south winds.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
Coordinates