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Observation: Humpy Creek

Observation Date
3/9/2017
Observer Name
Ted Scroggin
Region
Uintas » Bear River Ranger District » Humpy Creek
Location Name or Route
Whitney Basin-Humpy Creek
Weather
Sky
Scattered
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
A bit of a freeze overnight, but conditions quickly softened. Light southwest winds with no snow moving around.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Dense Loose
Wind Crust
Melt-Freeze Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
Crusted slopes that are getting direct sun and dense settled dry snow on high protected north facing slopes.
Red Flags
Red Flags Comments
No red flags today, but warm temperatures are beginning to soften mid and low elevation sunny slopes. Cornice falls might be a red flag with warm weather as observed in the Humpy area today.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Cornice
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
The giant size cornices may be feeling the heat and it's hard to predict when these things will break?
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wet Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
Did not travel into much low and mid elevation terrain where the warm wx is creating soft and wet snow conditions.
Comments
You do not want to be underneath when these huge cornices break. This one triggered a shallow storm slab as hit the slope.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Low
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Low