Observation Date
1/18/2018
Observer Name
Ted Scroggin
Region
Uintas » Millcreek
Location Name or Route
Mill Creek
Weather
Sky
Few
Wind Direction
West
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
A mild day for mid January with temps in the 40s and light ridge top winds from the west. Winds were not affecting the avalanche hazard this afternoon.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Faceted Loose
Wind Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
Despite the unseasonably warm weather, the snow conditions are holding up quite well. I found nice settled dense powder in the Mill Creek area, although the snow cover is rather thin.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
I was expecting to find very thin snow cover and some old avalanche activity, but things have been fairly quiet in the Mill Creek drainage. The snow pack structure is still a concern with weak sugary snow in the mid pack and around the crusts, but a few of the places I dug did not have much of a slab.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
The persistent slab problem should be on the rise with increasing winds and possibly some good snow totals.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
Winds were generally light along the ridge lines and not increasing the hazard this afternoon.
Comments
Some of the areas I dug around today were quite shallow and lacking a slab on top of the weak sugary snow, but this should change with the approaching storm.
Things have been relatively quiet in the Mill Creek area, likely due to thin snow cover. I was feeling many logs and stumps while riding through the area, but with a good storm riders might start venturing out here.
The High Uintas are looking a little thin and rocky right now.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
