Observation: Notch Mountain

Observation Date
3/27/2016
Observer Name
Michael Janulaitis
Region
Uintas » Mirror Lake Highway » Notch Mountain
Location Name or Route
Notch Couloirs
Weather
Sky
Broken
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Moderate
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Wind Crust
Melt-Freeze Crust
Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Cracking
Poor Snowpack Structure
Comments

What a difference a day makes. Yesterday's sun did a number on nearly all the snow pack. This morning there was a 1/2 inch thick crust on southerly facing aspects. There was some un-effected snow on the upper and mid elevation sheltered north facing slopes but very spotty. I skied the Notch Couloirs. The skiers left couloir had what appeared to be a covered wind slab skiers left which I kept clear of. Other than that the snow was acceptable up top,but mid-slope it was a mixed bag of firm, soft, creamy, punchy snow. While down booting the top of the the right couloir, a very small soft wind slab (5'x5') ran just as I was taking my first few steps. It was isolated to the very top as about ten feet in, I was really bummed I didn't have crampons (ice, yikes). Down below the mayhem up top the snow was soft enough to ski but not very good. Stable conditions existed the length of the couloir. At the end of the day, the south slopes were very warm, the crusts had all melted and had I been above a south slope I could most likely have sent some good roller balls down maybe even generated a slide.

Today's Observed Danger Rating
Low
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Low