Observation Date
3/24/2022
Observer Name
Staples, Grewe, Pili
Region
Uintas » Mirror Lake Environs
Location Name or Route
Mirror Lake and Soapstone
Weather
Sky
Few
Weather Comments
A few "cotton ball" clouds on and off during the day. Otherwise warm spring.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Characteristics Comments
Weird riding on north facing slopes. The top 3-4" of snow was damp. The snow under is still a 1-2' thick cohesive slab, but you would break through occasionally with your track or a ski into facets underneath.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Cracking
Collapsing
Rapid Warming
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Facets remain dry and incredibly weak....like when you see them and feel them, you think "I can't believe they are loose and weak, but it's almost April and the weather feels hot"
We experienced one large collapse. When riding about another person's track, we could get the snow to crack. The snow fell gooey and sluggish but I don't trust it at all.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
2 months of dry weather (Jan&Feb) created an unbelievable layer of facets (PWL) that is easy to find. In some places it's hard to make a clean pit wall because they spill out. It's more like looking at a layer of facets or depth hoar in December. Regardless of the warming weather and wet snow, that is the main issue - the facets are just incredibly weak.
I was more worried about them near and a little below treeline than in the alpine which tends to get hammered by winds. Those winds during Jan & Feb scoured many slopes and left the facets in pockets. They are less widespreand and more pockety in above treeline terrain.
Snow Profile
Aspect
North
Elevation
10,200'
Comments
Extended column test scores ranged from 0 to 14. It's hard to believe we were getting scores of zero (ECTPV)!!
We looked at lower elevation sites ~8,600' and found similar conditions with a slab about 10-12" thick. We saw evidence of old cracks and small slides as well as triggering several very small road cuts.
Video
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable
Coordinates
