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Observation: Humpy Creek

Observation Date
2/27/2019
Observer Name
Cody Hughes
Region
Uintas » Bear River Ranger District » Humpy Creek
Location Name or Route
Humpy Creek
Weather
Sky
Broken
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
South
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Pleasant morning with temperatures in the 20's and few clouds. Winds were averaging 25-35 mph with gusts to 50 out of the south all day (drifiting noted). More clouds moving in throughout day with light snowfall beginning around 1:00 and continuing to roughly 3:00, an inch or two fell before tapering off.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
1"
New Snow Density
High
Snow Surface Conditions
Dense Loose
Wind Crust
Melt-Freeze Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
Some dense loose provided good skiing out of the wind zone. The winds got to a lot of the terrain even at mid elevations and in some protected areas.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Although there wasn't a lot of snow available for transport the winds still found every last bit of snow it could and was transporting and loading the lee side of ridges. Fresh wind slabs were triggered.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
We triggered two wind slabs in the humpy creek drainage ranging from 6-12 inches in depth and 25-100 ft wide.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #2 Comments
It seems as though our persistent weak layers are hinting at gaining strength and becoming more stable over time. Where snowpack is deep (180-250 cm) it would be difficult to trigger a large persistent slab avalanche. The issue is in areas where the snowpack remains thin. How do we know where that is??? It is best to continue to avoid avalanche terrain (slopes between 30-45 degrees) on aspects facing NW-SE especially slopes that are thin and rocky, unsupported, have avalanched already this season or appear wind drifted. Any wind slab triggered has the potential to step down to buried persistent weak layers deeper in the snowpack creating a much larger unmanageable and unsurvivable avalanche. With a solid refresh in the Uintas forecasted there will be plenty of safe terrain to go enjoy the new snow without having to worry about triggering one of these big slides. Patience is key in times like these.
Snow Profile
Aspect
Northwest
Elevation
10,500'
Slope Angle
40°
4-6 mm Depth Hoar crystals found in our snowpit in the humpy creek drainage. Hard to trust a depth hoar snowpack even when buried this deep...
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable