Observation: Gold Hill

Observation Date
11/21/2015
Observer Name
Ted Scroggin
Region
Uintas » Bear River Ranger District » Gold Hill
Location Name or Route
Gold Hill Basin
Weather
Sky
Clear
Weather Comments
Beautiful day on the north slope, but a chilly start with single digit temperatures and calm winds. Lots of folks out enjoying the snow, a few sledders out in Gold Hill, others heading for the Bald Mt. area and some people getting their tree for the holidays.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
3"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Dense Loose
Snow Characteristics Comments
A few inches new from a couple days ago and the coverage I think is a bit better than this time last year? 12-16" seems to be the average out in the Gold Hill area today. You can find some places that are a bit deeper, but generally a foot and a half, but it is early season conditions. Not much of a base to speak of and it is basically riding and turning on the ground.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
The snowpack structure is somewhat upside right now, with denser snow on top of some early season weak sugary snow near the ground. This denser snow however has not formed much of a slab so the hazard is generally quite low.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Normal Caution
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
I checked normal caution with the thought being the terrain and early season snow cover is the limiting factor preventing people from getting into the higher areas.
Comments
1. There is just enough snow on the highway for some riders wanting to get out and dust off the machine. 2. A few riders were out in the Gold Hill area, but they were staying on roads and being quite careful. 3. The south facing terrain is still quite thin and needs a few more storms.
At the base of Gold Hill where many riders like to climb the coverage looks ok, but lots of hazards are just barely covered. I think this would prevent folks from getting into trouble higher up on the slope where the hazard is a little more elevated.
A quick pit on some of the east facing terrain and not much in the way of a slab. Some early season weak sugary snow near the ground and my compression tests just smashed the column and no fracture.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Low
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Low