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Observation: Whitney Basin

Observation Date
4/14/2018
Observer Name
Ted Scroggin
Region
Uintas » Bear River Ranger District » Whitney Basin
Location Name or Route
Whitney Basin
Weather
Sky
Scattered
Wind Direction
Northwest
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Beautiful spring day with new snow, not too warm, light winds and great supportable riding and turning.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
10"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Wind Crust
Rain-Rime Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
Just a few inches along the highway around the Whitney turn off and upwards of 8-10" higher in Whitney Basin. Nice supportable riding all day with dry powder on north facing slopes, a little damp on the south aspects, but conditions help up quite well with minimal wet activity.
Red Flags
Red Flags Comments
Generally stable conditions with a few soft wind slabs on higher ridge lines that would crack, but not move much. A light northwest wind kept the wet activity to a minimum and just a nice spring day on the north slope.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
In my travels not a real problem today, but did not get into steeper wind loaded terrain, but I would suspect many of the wind slabs have settled out.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wet Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
Very minimal wet activity today with a light northwest wind. A few roller balls on the sunny aspects, but nothing got out of hand today.
Comments
Parking right now is around the Whitney turn off and the pavement should start advancing up the highway fairly quickly.
Nice dry powder this morning and snow conditions held up quite well today.
A few soft slabs that would crack, but not move much with the weight of a rider.
Conditions stayed cool along the high north facing ridge lines with snow hanging in the trees.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate