Observation: Whitney Basin

Observation Date

4/29/2017

Observer Name

Ted Scroggin

Region

Uintas » Bear River Ranger District » Whitney Basin

Location Name or Route

Whitney Basin

Weather

Sky

Scattered

Wind Direction

Northeast

Wind Speed

Moderate

Weather Comments

Chilly start to the day with northeast winds and scattered clouds in the morning and mostly sunny in the afternoon. The northeast winds kept the temperatures cool.

Snow Characteristics

New Snow Depth

18"

New Snow Density

Low

Snow Surface Conditions

Powder

Wind Crust

Snow Characteristics Comments

Quite the storm, with a nice 18~20" in the Whitney Basin and the snow quality was like January conditions early in the day. The riding and turning conditions were amazing for almost May.

Red Flags

Recent Avalanches

Wind Loading

Red Flags Comments

Moderate northeast winds were finding lots of snow to move around onto unusual slopes. Some localized cracking of the recent wind slabs, but nothing too reactive in our travels. A decent natural avalanche cycle late yesterday with numerous shallow soft wind and storm slabs on the north aspects.

Avalanche Problem #1

Problem

Wind Drifted Snow

Trend

Decreasing Danger

Problem #1 Comments

Fresh wind slabs were the main concern early in the day, but these appeared to settled out as the afternoon warmed up.

Comments

Riders are taking advantage of this exceptional winter and spring with great riding for the end of April.

A small natural avalanche cycle likely happening during yesterday's steady snowfall on the north facing slopes.

Not much good from northeast winds as the north facing slopes were pretty worked over up near the ridge lines.

Pretty amazing powder conditions for the end of April.

Today's Observed Danger Rating

None

Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating

None

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