Observation Date
12/8/2015
Observer Name
Ted Scroggin
Region
Uintas » Bear River Ranger District » Gold Hill
Location Name or Route
Hwy 150- Gold Hill
Weather
Sky
Broken
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
A mix of sun and clouds today, with some gusty winds along the higher ridge lines and mild temperatures.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
1"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Faceted Loose
Wind Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
The warm temperatures created some damp snow conditions and the 1" new snow helped soften some of the hard road conditions.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Cracking
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Still finding a weak snowpack, but not much in the way of a slab other than along the high ridge lines and wind exposed areas mainly on the north through northeast aspects.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
With such a big place as the Uintas there is never a shortage of places where the wind blows and finds enough snow to form drifts and wind slabs that create a higher hazard.
Comments
A couple of sled tracks showing that it's basically still riding on the ground.
I was not finding any alarming stability tests in my pits today. At this location in lower Gold Hill, the snowpack is just about all weak sugary snow, except for some minor heat and wind crusts near the surface.
The warm temperatures have started to take a toll near the trailhead on Hwy 150.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Low
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Low
