Observation Date
1/26/2021
Observer Name
Wiest
Region
Uintas » Tower Mountain
Location Name or Route
Tower Mtn / Little West Fork
Red Flags
Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
Quick pit to see what was going on in between storms. Same layer from ground up to 35-40 cm still showing the most facets. Very bouncy and sugary with faceting visible to the naked eye. During ECT and CT, failure occured right at 39 cm. Snow above this layer varied in hardness, but for the most part was either 4F or 1F. Sidehilling or laying down the throttle without any base will get a sled quickly down to the weak layer
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
Nothing new for this area where the wind likes to rip over the ridges. The wind drifted snow easily hides terrain features and obstacles, and can get deeper and then shallow in a hurry. My main concern for wind today was not as much the loading from the last day or two, but primarily how much available snow for wind drift is now available. The top 10-20 cm was extermely fluffy and light and will be displaced if the wind picks up.
Snow Profile
Aspect
North
Elevation
10,000'
Comments
Mostly rode on the road to and from the pit, so I didn't observe any collapsing or whoomphing over the sound of the sled. Easy to get drawn into the freshly covered landscape where the sled snowmines are waiting just under the surface.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
Coordinates