Observation: Gold Hill

Observation Date

2/13/2026

Observer Name

Ted Scroggin

Region

Uintas » Gold Hill

Location Name or Route

Gold Hill

Weather

Sky

Broken

Wind Speed

Calm

Weather Comments

It felt a little more like February today with cooler morning temperatures, some nice new snow and was amazed how darn calm the winds were even on the ridge line. Broken skies with brief periods of sunshine made for a pleasant day in Gold Hill.

Snow Characteristics

New Snow Depth

12"

New Snow Density

Medium

Snow Surface Conditions

Powder

Damp

Snow Characteristics Comments

The storm left between 8-10" with a legit 12-14" of medium density for the higher parts of Gold Hill. Yesterday's late afternoon/evening impulse accumulated an additional 3" which put the snow totals around a foot and really improved the travels conditions.

Red Flags

Cracking

Collapsing

Poor Snowpack Structure

Red Flags Comments

Numerous collapses and cracking of the new snow that is sitting on the old weak surface. I did not observe any natural or human triggered slides and the lack of wind has made it seem a little tricky with the slab on top not too dense at the moment. Although I was able to collapse and crack out a very small test slope with the slab up to 18" deep.

Avalanche Problem #1

Problem

Persistent Weak Layer

Trend

Same

Problem #1 Comments

A quick hand pit or a shovel of new snow reveals the poor structure under the storm snow. Some of the weakest snow I found was on a northwest aspect at 10, 300' where all three standard snow pit tests showed very unstable snow. The compression and ECT tests both had very low scores and a shovel shear indentified the weak interface.

Comments

A slight improvement in the conditions getting out of the trailhead with about 4-5".

A good storm with around 8-10" and upwards of 12-14" for the higher elevations of Gold Hill Basin.

Where the wind has drifted the new snow into denser slabs, it was easy to collapse and crack small test slopes.

Today's Observed Danger Rating

Moderate

Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating

Moderate

Coordinates

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