Observation: Whitney Basin

Observation Date

1/11/2013

Observer Name

Ted Scroggin

Region

Uintas

Location Name or Route

Hwy 150- Gold Hill

Weather

Sky

Obscured

Precipitation

Light Snowfall

Wind Direction

Northeast

Wind Speed

Moderate

Weather Comments

Could easily be one of the coldest days I've had on the north slope. My partner and I both noticed that each of us had white patches on our cheeks and nose from the cold wind blowing under our helmets on exposed skin. Most of the day was cloudy with gusty winds adding to the brutal cold.

Snow Characteristics

New Snow Depth

10"

New Snow Density

Low

Snow Surface Conditions

Powder

Wind Crust

Snow Characteristics Comments

In very sheltered terrain out of the wind, the snow was quite nice with cold powder and good turning and riding. Not quite enough new snow to cover up old hard tracks, but where the wind had been blowing the drifts were deep.

Red Flags

Recent Avalanches

Wind Loading

Poor Snowpack Structure

Red Flags Comments

It did not appear to be too alarming out there today with the new snow, but the winds along the higher exposed ridgelines were forming fresh and somewhat sensitive drifts. The only recent activity we observed were a few small shallow new snow avalanches in steep thin rocky terrain.

Avalanche Problem #1

Problem

Persistent Weak Layer

Trend

Same

Problem #1 Comments

Gusty winds were blowing the new snow into drifts along and off the ridgelines.

Avalanche Problem #2

Problem

New Snow

Trend

Decreasing Danger

Problem #2 Comments

The 10" or so of new snow did not appear to have drastically changed the avalanche hazard, but we did observe a few small shallow new snow slides that released in steeper thin rocky terrain.

Comments

We had limited visibility during the day , but observed a few shallow new snow avalanches.

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