Observation Date
1/20/2019
Observer Name
jg
Region
Uintas
Location Name or Route
Western Uintas
Comments
Traveled the north half of the compass to 10K. Winds were blowing but not moving snow. Warm temps the last two days have consolidated the storm slab and I was finding damp snow to just over 9K but no temperature crust. Also finding damp snow deeper in the pack at and below 9K. Any weaknesses in the storm snow seem to have settled out.
Also, I'm still finding a lot of spacial variability in my travels. I can dig in one spot at a particular elevation and find weak snow throughout the pack and move 100 feet at the same elevation and the pack will be a foot deeper with better structure.
Pit test results reflected easy to easy-moderate effort to fail with a propensity to propagate across the column on facets on the old December snow surface. Results were clean and energetic and enough to make me really take notice. With more snow and wind forecasted the danger will definitely be bumping up. I would think the new snow will bond well with the old snow surface. Considerable to high danger tomorrow based on amounts of new snow and wind.
Photo #1: CT shear
Photo #2: faceted grains on failure plane.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable