Observation Date
12/29/2021
Observer Name
Ted Scroggin
Region
Uintas » Gold Hill
Location Name or Route
Gold Hill
Weather
Sky
Broken
Wind Direction
South
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Cold day with brisk south winds, a few periods of filtered sunshine with some thicker clouds moving in late afternoon.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
4"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments
The recent storm snow has settled out making for some nice riding and turning out of the wind. The brisk south winds were beginning to slab up the snow on the exposed ridge lines, with shallow cracking of the surface snow.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Wind Loading
Cracking
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
I did not observe any recent avalanche activity in Gold Hill, but I did catch a look over onto Double Hill and noticed a couple of recent pockets that were not very wide, but the crowns looked to be quite deep. The winds today had no problem finding soft snow to blow around and add more stress to the already stressed snow pack on the north side of the compass.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
Almost a week of new snow and strong winds have increased the stress on a poor snow pack structure and many slopes I would imagine are at their tipping point of failure. I have not observed a lot of natural activity which might mean many slopes are just holding on and with another round of new snow and wind this might be the breaking point.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
The winds today from the south were in the moderate range on the ridges and started to increase this afternoon even down on the flats. There is plenty of soft snow to blow around creating fresh and sensitive wind drifts.
Comments
This snow pit on a north aspect at just under 10,000' resulted in a column of snow failing at 23 taps from the shoulder, breaking at the old October weak layer which now has a big slab of snow resting on top of it.
There were breaks in the clouds today to observe some of the bigger terrain and I did not see any recent slides out in Gold Hill, but would think some slopes have avalanched and filled back in from snow and wind.
The snow conditions are quite good on low angle slopes and meadows making for fun riding and turning.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable
Coordinates
