Observation: Mirror Lake Corridor

Observation Date
3/3/2026
Observer Name
Katz/Applegarth
Region
Uintas » Mirror Lake Corridor
Location Name or Route
Mirror Lake Corridor
Weather
Sky
Few
Wind Direction
West
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Sky cover decreased through the morning, up high, with the cloud deck residing around the 9000' level. Winds were so calm that loud noises could be heard coming from forecasters in Upper Weber Canyon.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
9"
New Snow Density
High
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Wind Crust
Melt-Freeze Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments

A variety of snow conditions could be observed, with the snow surface greenhousing in the morning. Even low angle norths were taking solar input (see attached photo of pole drag test on low angle N facing), and all but steep north had either a forming melt freeze crust, or a damp texture. Alpine acoustics were wonderful, however with the amount of water present.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Rapid Warming
Poor Snowpack Structure
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wet Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #2 Comments

Wet loose up high was observed (attached) on the south side of Ramona, and down low next to Hwy 150 around the Murdock Basin turn off.

Snow Profile
Aspect
North
Elevation
10,400'
Slope Angle
25°
Comments

Travels on the Mirror Lake Highway provide an excellent insight into the status of the alpine, precip favored terrain in the Uintas. After last night's loading event, the place was rather quiet: old activity could be observed near the top of Haystack, some new point releases were present, but the avalanche activity on the Mirror Lake Corridor is slim for now. A snow profile in an area of relative shelter reveals the clues: not only is the snowpack deep, with the weak layer having gained strength, but this weak layer was disrupted by wind in the alpine on some of the more prominent paths in the area anyways. In other words, the observed activity on Haystack fits the mold: add some shelter and things were more reactive last week, but at the moment, up high in favored areas, the weak layer is buried deep enough to not be as talkative as it was last week.

Coordinates