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Observation Date
3/2/2017
Observer Name
Ted Scroggin
Region
Uintas » Millcreek
Location Name or Route
Mill Creek
Weather
Sky
Clear
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Calm
Weather Comments
Beautiful day out in the Uintas with very lights winds, cool temperatures and great snow conditions.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Dense Loose
Wind Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
That time of year where it is relatively easy to get around on sleds with a good supportable base and the coverage is great. Recent winds have created some stiffer snow conditions, but generally outside of the more wind exposed terrain the snow is nice dense settled powder. No wet activity at this elevation and location.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Cracking
Red Flags Comments
No alarming red flags observed, but a few isolated wind slabs are still around just off the ridge lines. These would crack out up to 18~20" deep, but did not have much energy left and not real connected.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
Isolated to the wind exposed ridge lines and mainly on northwest through east facing slopes, a few wind slabs are still around, but appear to be settling out with the warming temperatures and lack of wind.
Comments
1. Traveling around the Mill Creek Drainage, it has been awhile since the place looked this white and filled in! 2. The strong gusty winds early in the week created some sensitive wind slabs and a few of these released naturally and piled up some decent debris piles.
Here in Cataract Basin, it looks like these oversized cornices needed to shed a few layers and triggered some shallow surface snow slides and traveled a good distance down the slope.
Some minor cracking in a few wind slabs, but these lacked energy and not real connected to bigger pieces of snow.
There should be some great spring adventures in the High Uintas with such a deep snowpack.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Low