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Observation: Whitney Basin

Observation Date
4/24/2013
Observer Name
Ted Scroggin
Region
Uintas
Location Name or Route
Whitney Basin-Upper Weber Canyon
Weather
Sky
Clear
Wind Speed
Calm
Weather Comments
Stellar day in the Uintas with clear skies, little to no wind and very supportable snow conditions.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Dense Loose
Wind Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
A good solid refreeze last night made for some nice riding and turning. The high north facing slopes have good dense settled powder and east through south had soft carvable snow. The temperatures today did not get too warm which kept the wet activity in check and even late in the afternoon there was still supportable snow.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
No real issues in my travels today. The large natural avalanche I observed in some very high elevation terrain still reminds me that those places where weak faceted snow along with thin rocky terrain are places where avalanches are still possible.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wet Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
Should see the wet activity start to increase with warming temperatures this week.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
There might be a few isolated places where a lingering wind slab could be triggered, but things seemed to have settled out.
Comments
I'm guessing this small sled tirggered wind slab happened over the weekend. South and southwest winds creating fresh wind drifts that were sensitive to the weight of a rider. Second photo is of some recent wet activity, with day time heating cornices are becoming soft and tender.
Another very large natural avalanche breaking to the ground was observed in some very high elevation terrain, where thin rocky and weak faceted snow has been all season. The second photo is showing how good the upper elevation snow conditions are right now.