Observation: Uintas

Observation Date
12/29/2018
Observer Name
Michael Janulaitis
Region
Uintas
Location Name or Route
Western Uintas
Weather
Sky
Broken
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
1"
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Wind Crust
Red Flags
Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
My concern here is for a pocket of recently wind loaded snow on top a rollover breaking on the basal facets and running through trees below.
Comments
Christmas storm cycle has settled out to about 10 inches with a quick inch falling this morning. Sluffing through trees and isolated wind drifts over our weak basal facets on the ridgeline was the concern for me today. As seen in the pick below the snow was sensitive on steep slopes and potentially dangerous in treed terrain if you were to get caught up in a few tight trees while the slope is sluffing from your tracks above but very manageable out in the open. Another noteworthy observation is general faceting of the snow pack. Last week it seemed we could ride anywhere. That's not the case anymore. The thin snowpack is rotting and losing cohesion, that is faceting and noticeable as your track breaks through the hard layer on top augering into the junk down below or your ski pole pokes though the upper snowpack and falls to the ground.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Low
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Low