Observation Date
1/28/2014
Observer Name
Ted Scroggin
Region
Uintas » Millcreek
Location Name or Route
Mill Creek
Weather
Sky
Few
Wind Direction
Northwest
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
A cold start to the day with single digits at the tailhead and some light winds from the northwest along the ridgelines.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Dense Loose
Faceted Loose
Wind Crust
Melt-Freeze Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
Just a trace of new snow from yesterday and last night, but it did little to soften the hard old tracks. In very protected areas there is still soft settled dense snow which rides ok. Much of the popular riding terrain is pretty well tracked-up and we could sure use some new snow. The east side of the highway is still quite thin and shallow with only about 48" of snow on the ground. The majority of the snow pack is mostly made-up of weak faceted snow, but I did not get any alarming stability tests where I dug.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
In the Mill Creek area which typically has shallow weak snow there was evidense of a good natural avalanche cycle from the series of storms and strong west winds around the 17th of January. The snow pack here is mostly faceted from top to bottom with not much in the way of a slab until you get into more wind exposed terrain. A good shot of water and heavy dense snow could likely overload the shallow snow pack and create dangerous avalanche conditions.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
If the forecasted storm holds-up and the area recieves some heavy dense snow and water weight, I would think a decent natural avalanche cycle could happen.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
Plenty of loose snow to blow around and form new wind drifts with an approaching storm.
Comments
Old news, but a nice avalanche that occurred in the upper Mill Creek drainage during the last big cycle around january 17. Much of this area is shallow, rocky and has very weak snow conditions. This is a northeast aspect with a big broad fetch on the west side where west and southwest winds strip the snow onto the leeward side.
The strong west winds from nearly two weeks ago have stripped some slopes clean of snow.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
