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Observation: Whitney Basin

Observation Date
12/6/2013
Observer Name
Ted Scroggin
Region
Uintas » Bear River Ranger District » Whitney Basin
Location Name or Route
Whitney Basin
Weather
Sky
Obscured
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Another very cold start to the day with below zero temperatures. If riding a sled, you want your hand warmers working. Some short periods of broken sun, but mostly cloudy with light winds.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Dense Loose
Snow Characteristics Comments
Cold settled powder and some new soft wind slabs beginning to develop this afternoon. The riding and turning conditions have greatly improved, but some areas still have stumps and rocks. I was conservative in my choices of places to ride and the few riders that have been out recently, have been staying off the steep terrain.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Cracking
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
The weak faceted snow near the ground is still a big concern, although not much recent avalanche activity from my observations. The light winds today were finding plenty of loose snow to form soft and sensitive wind drifts. I observed shooting cracks out ahead of both my sled and skis as I traveled around in low angle terrain.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
The relatively moderate snow pack depth and cold temperatures continue to promote weak faceted snow to develop near the bottom of the snow pack.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
With plenty of loose snow to blow around, somewhat sensitive wind drifts were developing this afternoon. Shooting cracks and wind slabs 8-10" deep were found in wind exposed terrain.
Comments
I was finding these 8-10" deep wind slabs today where the wind had drifted snow onto leeward slopes. These will likely be covered with tomorrows forecasted snow.
While traveling around today, I was getting these shooting cracks ahead of my sled in places where the wind had deposited a fresh wind drift. These fresh wind drifts are sitting on weak surface snow that developed this week with cold temperatures.
Noticed some recent activity on Double Hill today. It looked as though recent southwest winds have formed some cornices along the ridge lines and some of these have grown large enough to break-off. This one did not entrain a whole lot of snow, but enough to knock a rider off their board or sled.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable