Observation Date
2/14/2014
Observer Name
Ted Scroggin
Region
Uintas » Mirror Lake Highway » Bald Mtn Pass
Location Name or Route
Hwy 150-Bald Mt.
Weather
Sky
Obscured
Precipitation
Moderate Snowfall
Wind Direction
West
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Mild weather this morning at the trailhead with overcast skies and a shallow refreeze. Only minor new snow accumulations at lower elevations, but once you reach about 9,500' to 9,800' several inches to about a foot of new snow around the Bald Mt. area. Moderate snowfall and gusty winds all day on Bald Mt. Pass
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
10"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Dense Loose
Snow Characteristics Comments
Dense wind blown snow at the upper elevations and in wind exposed terrain, but in sheltered areas the snow rides quite nice. Heard some reports of damp snow and the bottom falling out around the Gold Hill area.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Wind Loading
Rapid Warming
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
New snow and lots of wind up high forming fresh wind drifts breaking up to a foot deep. Did not have much visibility today, but would imagine some natural avalanches were happening during the day with strong winds and new snow. Damp unsupportable snow was reported in some of the lower areas.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
With the current poor snow pack structure found throughout the range and big scary avalanches being triggered and occuring naturally the high hazard is real out there. This weekend could be an interesting test for the snow pack with another storm today and strong winds and a jump in temperatures that could activate buried weak layers.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #2 Comments
Strong winds this afternoon and new snow have created fresh wind drifts that were breaking up to a foot deep along some of the higher ridgelines. Cornices have grown very large and are sensitive to any additional weight from a person.
Comments
Up around the Bald Mt. area the snow is really starting to pile-up. In sheltered areas the riding and turning is quite good on a mostly supportable base. Visiting the Mirror Lake snow plot site today to clean solar pannels off, the snow had buried the enclosure box which indicates a reasonablly deep snow pack at this elevation.
Stomping around on some small safe test slopes, I was able get some fresh wind drifts to break at my skies and sled 10-12" deep. These could likely get deeper and more sensitive with continued strong winds that are forecasted.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
High
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
High
