Observation: Bald Mtn Pass

Observation Date
11/17/2013
Observer Name
jg
Region
Uintas » Mirror Lake Highway » Bald Mtn Pass
Location Name or Route
Bald Mountain Pass Area
Weather
Sky
Few
Wind Direction
West
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Windier on the high ridges. Temps in the mid to upper teens to lower 20's.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
18"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Dense Loose
Snow Characteristics Comments

Density inversion in the new snow with denser wind effected snow on top of light density snow, that seemed to have fallen with little wind, just above the old snow surface.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Cracking
Collapsing
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
We experienced collapsing and cracking throughout the day. Slopes seemed to have been crossed loaded from the north and south. CT test showed reactive layers in the snow pack.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Snow Profile
Aspect
North
Elevation
10,700'
Comments

Column tests on north facing slopes were typically failing on basal facets just under the old snow surface but i also was getting results on the old snow surface/new snow interface on preserved stellars.

CT5-15 Q1&2 on basal facets (Second Photo)

CT5-15 Q2 on the old snow/new snow interface (First photo)

Old snow surface were rounded grains on north facing slopes and melt forms on west thru south facing slopes. Photo is of melt freeze crust on west facing slope.

The Mirror Lake Highway is officially closed for the season. The snow pack is still thin in the Uintas but this storm was kind to the area, easily doubling the amount of snow already on the ground. Still not a lot of slope connectivity with a lot of anchors still poking through the snow. Trend should be toward increasing stability unless the winds pick up. Kept the skins on all day as there are still a lot of hazards lurking above and just under the snow surface. Beautiful day in the alpine.