Observation: Uintas

Observation Date
12/23/2015
Observer Name
Michael Janulaitis
Region
Uintas
Location Name or Route
Hoyt Peak
Weather
Sky
Obscured
Precipitation
Heavy Snowfall
Wind Direction
Northwest
Wind Speed
Moderate
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
10"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Heavy Snowfall
Wind Loading
Cracking
Poor Snowpack Structure
Snow Profile
Aspect
Northwest
Elevation
10,000'
Slope Angle
27°
Comments

I was out at Hoyt Peak again today. The snow is really piling up. The upper elevations received 8-10 inches of light density snow in the last 24 hours whcih I could blow out of my hand. The wet heavy snow underneath was supporting my skis but not my sled. I wasn't able to get any collapses and cracking was limited to freshly formed cornices. I dug on an upper elevation NW facing slope. I was a little suprised to see as much as 205 cm's of snow but the average was about 150-175 cm. My stablity test suggests the entire snow pack could easily pull out on steeper slopes. I was able to get an isolated block to propagate cleanly and slide off with only one arm tap pulling out the entire snow pack in one large block and I was only in 27 degree terrain.

Today's Observed Danger Rating
High
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
High
Coordinates