Observation Date
1/8/2016
Observer Name
Meisenheimer, Staples
Region
Uintas » Nobletts
Location Name or Route
Nobletts to Current Creek
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
Northwest
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
In and out weather for the day with very minimal sun. Snow flurries at times, fog and flat light.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
5"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Wind Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
The new 5 inches of snow went a long way and improved the riding conditions. Still finding lots of old tracks in the popular areas that made boondocking less fun. Off the beaten path there still remains excellent powder and great riding in the sheltered trees. The snow is very supportable allowing you to go almost anywhere.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
The poor snowpack structure is definitely worth keeping an eye on for the time being.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
The slab is starting to relax and becoming progressively harder and harder to trigger each day. Weak sugary snow still exists on the ground with very strong snow on top, this is a bad combo no matter how you cut it.
This weak layer at the ground will become active again with new loads of snow and or wind. The old bed surfaces where avalanches ran during the xmas cycle are still weak and faceted and will likely re-load and avalanche again with future storms.
Sled triggered wind slab.
Video below is from field work today by Current Creek Peak. Faceted weak snow at the ground is becoming more and more stubborn. However, we are still seeing full propagation in our snowpit tests which means that triggering an avalanche at the ground is still possible.
Video
Video -
East northeast aspect 9750' in elevation.
ECTP 12 failing on SH up 47cm from the ground
Something to keep an eye on. Probably isolated to a terrain feature as we did not find another location with buried SH.
Interestingly, I (MS) found a surface hoar layer on 12/29/15 about 20 miles north. https://utahavalanchecenter.org/observations/25516
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
