Observation Date
4/18/2015
Observer Name
Ted Scroggin
Region
Uintas » Mirror Lake Highway » Bald Mountain
Location Name or Route
Highway 150-Bald Mt.
Weather
Sky
Few
Wind Direction
Northeast
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
A few morning clouds, cool temperatures in the twenties and some brisk east winds even at the lower elevations.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Melt-Freeze Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
Still some dense powder like snow left over from the mid-week storm, with damp snow along the highway at lower elevations. Strong winds have really been moving snow around and exposing the old snow surface, leaving a dirt layer that actually rides quite nice once it softens-up. Still a few riders getting out and enjoying the spring conditions, I'm afraid though, the snow is going to go quite fast here on the north slope. The highway is just barely covered even at the higher elevations and much of the riding and turning terrain is starting to show more rock and many south facing slopes have melted out already.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Red Flags Comments
I checked the wind box due to the brisk east and northeast winds that were blowing throughout the day, but the mild temperatures kept the wind slabs mostly in check and of the soft slab variety. The few places I stomped around these soft slabs were quite stubborn and did not want to move much. The warmer temperatures also kept the wet activity to a minimum, with just a few small roller balls coming-off the higher rock bands in the Bald Mt and Reid's Peak area.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
A pretty minor issue, but with the stronger winds a person could stumble onto a very isolated soft wind slab.
Comments
Starting out this morning, the east and northeast winds were fairly brisk along the ridgelines and even into the lower elevations. Still some dry powder like snow to blow around to create some minor wind slabs.
The brisk east winds have been getting into some of the more protected terrain exposing the old snow surface, leaving the dirty layer which actually rides quite nice once it softens-up.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Low
