Observation: Notch Mountain

Observation Date
4/3/2022
Observer Name
Michael Janulaitis
Region
Uintas » Notch Mountain
Location Name or Route
The Notch
Weather
Sky
Clear
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Dense Loose
Wind Crust
Melt-Freeze Crust
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Rapid Warming
Poor Snowpack Structure
Comments
I got out Sunday to find MLH starting to melt out between Soapstone and mile marker 18.. After our big warm up last week I was concerned the snow was getting isothermal and then even wet in the top layers but that wasn't the case at all, at least at 11k. There is a facet sandwich up top surrounded by a lower melt-freeze crust and on top a hard wind slab. I initially set out to ski the east face of Watson but it was mostly corniced over and mid-slope the snow was wind hammered and setup. I decided to check out The Notch since it is just next door and wind protected. I was able to get purchase all the way down but it was firm and required over 100 turns to keep it slow and smooth. The pic below is my second time on top showing off the firm surface. After walking back around the low angle south side was softening up and skied great. That was corn and that was the ideal slope to ski. The snow coverage on the slopes is pretty good all around however the snow on the ground, that is the flats, is very thin. Access is going to melt-out really fast over the next few weeks but I think the north slopes are going to retain a little bit longer.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Low
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Low