Observation Date
3/19/2016
Observer Name
Ted Scroggin
Region
Uintas » Bear River Ranger District » Whitney Basin
Location Name or Route
Whitney Basin
Weather
Sky
Clear
Wind Direction
West
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Another beautiful day out in the mountains, cool this morning and it did take a little while for things to warm-up in the upper elevations.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Dense Loose
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
Great riding and traveling conditions out there currently with soft dry snow that stayed cold for a good part of the morning above about 9,500'. The trailhead was busy today and lots of folks really enjoying the snow right now. Visited with a couple different groups today that were up on some of the view points and just admiring the scenery.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
I saw very little in the way of wind slab problems, the winds today were quite light to almost calm at times. The warm temperatures have helped to settle-out many of the wind slabs. I would think as riders continue to push into the bigger terrain there could still be some sensitive drifts.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #2 Comments
Moving around today I could find a few places that had punchy weak faceted snow on the north aspects, these were near trees and bushes.
Comments
Some of the large cornices might start to feel the heat of the day and break-off naturally like this one did. It triggered a very small wind slab, but left a nice little debris pile at the bottom on a north facing slope. Surely enough to knock a person off their sled or feet.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Low
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Low
