Observation Date
12/26/2015
Observer Name
Ted Scroggin
Region
Uintas » Mirror Lake Highway » Bald Mtn Pass
Location Name or Route
Hwy 150- Bald Mtn. Pass
Weather
Sky
Few
Wind Direction
Northeast
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Very chilly on the north slope today, not sure if the temperatures climbed much out of the low teens and with a light northeast wind I found it hard to stay warm riding.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
8"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Faceted Loose
Wind Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
Cold smoke today and it looked like the x-mas day storm has settled out to about 8". It is nice to see the Uintas so white and the riding conditions are getting quite good as things start to settle.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Cracking
Collapsing
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
I did not observe wide spread collapsing in my short day out, but I experienced enough to feel there is still areas where the snowpack is adjusting to the recent load. The higher ridge lines were experiencing the wind drifting today and from a northeast direction, which we don't see a lot of.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
As the snow conditions begin to settle and feel better under our sleds and boards, I would be concerned that riders might start to get onto steeper slopes. There is not alot of in your face evidence of recent avalanches and I think many slopes are still waiting for a trigger to get things going.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
The southerly aspects may have the wind drifting issues for tomorrow, with tody's wind out of the northeast.
Comments
This small remote snowcat triggered slide from a day or two ago showing just how sensitive the snowpack was trying to adjust to all the new snow.
I wish the camera could better show how widespread the natural avalanche cycle was when the area was recieving all the heavy snow and wind. Many of the aprons and runouts on the east and south side of Bald Mtn, north side of Murdock Peak, and the west side of Hayden Peak are full of old avalanche debris, which has now been filled back in.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable
