Observation: Mt. Marsell

Observation Date

3/17/2026

Observer Name

Ted Scroggin

Region

Uintas » Mt. Marsell

Location Name or Route

Lofty/Marsell

Weather

Sky

Few

Wind Direction

Northwest

Wind Speed

Moderate

Weather Comments

Clear skies this morning with very mild temperatures, it was in the low 40's already at 9:00am at the trailhead. Man the wind, it seemed like the northwest winds were on the increase throughout the day and a few more high clouds moved in. You could already feel the intensity of the sun this afternoon and it will only get warmer this week!

Snow Characteristics

Snow Surface Conditions

Wind Crust

Melt-Freeze Crust

Damp

Snow Characteristics Comments

Up around the Lofty, Mount Marsell area, the winds have been hammering away at the snow creating a lot of rough textured surface conditions. In protected north facing terrain there is some dense soft snow while the solar aspects were generally not very supportable. Felt like the snowpack is in transition with not quite spring snow conditions where there is a solid refreeze at night.

Red Flags

Wind Loading

Rapid Warming

Poor Snowpack Structure

Red Flags Comments

Plenty of wind from the northwest that was blowing what little snow there is that was not welded in place. I did not find any real wind issues where I traveled, but I can picture some exposed ridge lines where the wind has drifted snow into some reactive drifts. The poor snowpack structure is still easy to find digging down below the slab of dense snow.

Avalanche Problem #1

Problem

Persistent Weak Layer

Trend

Increasing Danger

Problem #1 Comments

On an east aspect at a little over 10,000' I was able to get a an ECTP score of 28. While the column did crack and propagate it was not super energetic, but still kept me thinking of what slopes could still produce an avalanche. I did choose increasing danger for the persistent weak layer, not really knowing how the snowpack will respond to the rapid warm up. Will water move down through the pack and weaken the strength and does the snow go through a rapid settlement and put addditional stress on the slab and weak layer interface? I guess I'm just thinking out loud.

Avalanche Problem #2

Problem

Wind Drifted Snow

Trend

Decreasing Danger

Problem #2 Comments

I think the wind should relax at some point, but man it has been steady for awhile and has really worked over the snow surface. There was blowing snow and likely some sensitive drifts in the exposed areas.

Comments

As of today the coverage on the roads is ok, but my guess is the access will take a big hit this week with very warm temperatures.

The winds continue to find snow to blow around.

In open areas the wind has been blowing steady and creating some rough travel conditions.

Pretty cool lens cloud hanging over Bald Mountain.

The snow cover is still pretty decent and looks like plenty of winter left I hope!

Poor structure with a high test score. Will be intereting to see how this structure reacts to a rapid increase in temperature?

Today's Observed Danger Rating

Moderate

Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating

Moderate

Coordinates

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