Planned Website Outage: The UAC website will be down for maintenance on June 17 from 2:00 - 7:00 PM MT.
Ad
The National Forest Service Logo
icon-add Observation
Forecasts
Logan Ogden Salt Lake Provo Uintas Skyline Moab Abajos Weather Archives How to read the forecast
Observations & Avalanches
Submit Observation Observations Explorer All Observations Avalanches Fatalities Weather Place Names Map Archives
Education
Avalanche Class List UAC Class List Online Classes Resources and Tutorials Avalanche Awareness Develop Skills
Events
Store
About
Contact Who we are Core Values Staff Board of Directors Past Forecasters Sponsors Annual Reports Sign In
Blog
icon-add Observation
Donate / Join

Observation: Ridge Yurt

Observation Date
1/9/2018
Observer Name
Mike DiBiasio
Region
Uintas » Ridge Yurt
Location Name or Route
Ridge Yurt
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Moderate
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
5"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Wind Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
Hard, unbreakable wind crust on the ridge near Pt. 9501, just south of Ridge Yurt. Powder on the lee side of the ridge and in the trees.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
TESTS: CT9 ... ECTP11 breaking at what is likely the Christmas storm interface. (Tests were performed on Tuesday, Jan. 9 before this area of the Uintas saw new snow overnight or today (Jan. 10). Our pit was due north @ 9,400 ft with a slope angle of 30 degrees).
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
There are facets by the shovelful out there. Pretty amazing stuff, and hard to miss. There's not a huge, cohesive slab where we were, but new loading from the recent storm could definitely tip the scales, especially in steeper terrain. Basal facets (bottom 1 to 2'') were almost rock hard.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
There is definitely new snow for transport right now. If the new snow isn't enough to tip the scales, the extra wind deposited snow could be for sure.
Snow Profile
Aspect
North
Elevation
9,400'
Slope Angle
30°
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
High