Observation Date
12/3/2016
Observer Name
Ted Scroggin
Region
Uintas » Bear River Ranger District » Gold Hill
Location Name or Route
Gold Hill Basin
Weather
Sky
Obscured
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
West
Wind Speed
Calm
Weather Comments
Continued cold in the mornings with some warming during the day. Mostly cloudy all day with very light snowfall and no real accumulations.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
1"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Dense Loose
Snow Characteristics Comments
The coverage is still thin, but this is some of the best early season conditions in awhile. The current snowpack around Gold Hill and the Whitney area is only around two feet in depth, but the riding and turning is quite good.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
No red flags today in my travels, even the winds on the ridge lines were very light to calm most of the afternoon. I checked, "poor snowpack structure" as the only concern I observed. There is some weak sugary snow near the ground on the higher north facing slopes, but it is not a wide spread issue. I dug two snow pits, one due north that had some very weak snow and I could not isolate a column for a stability test. The other snow pit was a slope that had a little south orientation to it and very little weak snow near the ground.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
Generally, I think the snowpack in the Whitney Basin is fairly stable, other than those isolated north facing slopes where there is some bigger weak sugary snow near the ground. A person could find some trouble if they worked at it, but the accessible terrain is still limited.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
Could be a lingering wind slab on the leeward side of wind drifted slopes, likely on east and southeast.
Comments
Riders are beginning to get out and enjoy the great early season conditions.
Low clouds and light snowfall today.
This snow pit on a southeast facing slope has just a thin layer of weak snow near the ground, while a snow pit on a north facing slope had very weak sugary snow and I could not isolate a column.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
