Observation Date
3/17/2020
Observer Name
Ted Scroggin
Region
Uintas
Location Name or Route
Whitney Basin
Weather
Sky
Scattered
Wind Direction
Southeast
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Mostly sunny with the clouds hanging over the High Uintas and winds continue to blow in the moderate to strong range from the south/southeast. The temperatures stayed mild, not getting too warm and snow conditions held up quite well today.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Dense Loose
Wind Crust
Melt-Freeze Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
Just enough of a re-freeze overnight to make for some rough icy conditions first thing this morning, but snow conditions did soften, but not too much and did not observe any wet issues. The best riding and turning is found on the north facing slopes below the ridge lines with nice dense settled snow. Things are pretty rough and wind hammered anywhere on the higher exposed terrain, but still decent conditions and worth a trip out.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Red Flags Comments
Moving around the Whitney area, it looked like there were a few triggered small shallow wind slabs over the weekend. One on the north shoulder of Moffit Peak left a decent debris pile, while the others were quite small and not much of a problem. Even with the mild temperatures, the gusty winds still manage to find enough loose snow to blow and drift snow onto mainly the north through east facing slopes today. I did not get much in the way of cracking snow, but if a person hunted around enough there is likely an old wind slab hanging around.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
Still think there are a few isolated wind slabs out there and todays gusty winds continued to find the loose snow to drift onto the leeward side of ridge lines.
Comments
Possibly a few triggered wind slabs from the weekend, not too suprising given all the wind we've had since Saturday. These were generally small and shallow, but the one on the north shoulder of Moffit Peak left a decent debris pile. Thought this might be from a cornice fall, but the cornice seemed intact from my observation.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Low
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
Coordinates
