Observation Date
1/27/2018
Observer Name
Ted Scroggin
Region
Uintas » Bear River Ranger District » Bear River West Fork » Moffit Peak SE Face
Location Name or Route
Moffit Peak
Weather
Sky
Broken
Wind Direction
West
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Mostly cloudy, some filtered sun and the winds continue to blow really working the open terrain.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
9"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Wind Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
The riding and turning conditions are quite nice and many riders were out today enjoying great powder snow. Areas not protected from the wind are really getting worked over with big deep drifts.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
The steady winds the last few days have moved lots of snow around stripping some slopes down to rock and dirt. Today's wind drifts were a bit deeper and more connected easily cracking ahead of skis and sleds. Some natural cornice fall observed, but did not trigger any avalanches.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
Steady west and southwest winds the last few days have transported lots of snow onto north and east facing slopes. Some of the west facing terrain has been stripped to bare ground. Some of the wind slabs are breaking up two feet deep.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #2 Comments
Where the snow pack is deeper, stability tests are getting harder to get any clean cracks or propagation across a column of snow. The weak sugary snow in the mid pack is still there, but looks like it has gained some strength from compression and more depth.
Comments
One of the deeper places I have dug with around 50" of snow and the stability tests are getting harder to get any clean crack or propagation across an isolated column of snow.
Steady winds the last few days have worked over the open terrain and stripped some slopes to bare ground.
The fresh wind drifts are breaking a couple feet deep and getting a little more connected in the higher terrain.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
