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Observation: Hoyt Peak

Observation Date
1/30/2013
Observer Name
jg
Region
Uintas
Location Name or Route
Hoyt Peak
Weather
Sky
Obscured
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
West
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Warmer today then the last few days. 30º at 6800 ft. @ 5:30 tonight. Foggy, very poor visibility. Rime growing into the west wind on trees, covering goggles lenses and ski poles and creating a very thin crust on the snow surface on some aspects. No appreciable snow accumulation during the day.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
8"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Rain-Rime Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
The light density snow from the last couple of days was topped with denser snow, a bit of graupel, and in some places, a very thin zipper rime crust. The snow surface was slightly damp. 6"-12" of snow since the weekend.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Poor Snowpack Structure
Comments
Traveled today from 6900-9200 ft., north half of the compass, slope angles to 32º. Went meadow skipping around Hoyt Peak. The snowpack is generally shallower and weaker than in upper Weber Canyon. Seemed to be only an inch of snow overnight. Kept to gentler terrain and did not see any signs of instability even though you couldn't see anything due to poor visibility. Where I have been traveling in the Uinta's there has been 6"-15" of new snow since the weekend. In terrain out of the wind, there doesn't seem to be enough weight to overload the weak faceted snow. I still would be cautious with slope angles and in terrain than has been wind loaded. There is still potential for deep slab instability as some CT's failed on basal facets. Future instabilities will depend on new snow amounts and wind.