Ad
The National Forest Service Logo
icon-add Observation
Forecasts
Logan Ogden Salt Lake Provo Uintas Skyline Moab Abajos Weather Archives How to read the forecast
Observations & Avalanches
Submit Observation Observations Explorer All Observations Avalanches Fatalities Weather Place Names Map Archives
Education
Avalanche Class List UAC Class List Online Classes Resources and Tutorials Avalanche Awareness Develop Skills
Events
Store
About
Contact Who we are Core Values Staff Board of Directors Past Forecasters Sponsors Annual Reports Sign In
Blog
icon-add Observation
Donate / Join

Observation: White Pine

Observation Date
4/2/2013
Observer Name
Fred
Region
Salt Lake
Location Name or Route
White Pine to base of Red Blady
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Wind Direction
Northwest
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Fast sky today. Wind gusting mostly at mid elevations blowing the PNW powder out of the trees.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
8"
New Snow Density
High
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments

I'm sure some would call this powder. New snow was 3-4" at the trail head and increased to 10-13" at White Pine Lake. New snow was as advertised at 10% density.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Heavy Snowfall
Wind Loading
Cracking
Rapid Warming
Red Flags Comments
Heavy new snow fall of dense snow sitting on a damp surface. Travel was not that difficult, wind would fill in tracks at mid elevation. Steeper slopes which did not slide yesterday produced cracking in the new snow. The top 2-3" did not bond well to the more dense 5-10" . Wind pillows were sensitive to ski cuts. Nothing would run to far cuz the snow was so dense. It took a good pitch (35+) to get a crack to propgate.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Problem #1 Comments

Cracking in the new snow. Like Evelyn pointed out in the information for today the steep sides of gullies were cracking. Terrain traps were to be avoided.

Avalanche Problem #2
Problem #2 Comments

Lots of wind but could not get a pic of that.

Pic of surface pit and then of cracking at about 9500'

I'm sure this has all changed after the sun came out. I was back to the car by 1300 hrs. But hey it's spring things change.