Observation: White Pine Gulch

Observation Date
2/8/2023
Observer Name
Nate L
Location Name or Route
White Pine
Red Flags
Red Flags
Heavy Snowfall
Wind Loading
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
Light winds when we left White Pine TH at 1100. No wind observed in the low-elevation trees in WP. Moderate winds at 1200-1300 in mid elevation trees below the Spire, from the N and mostly NE. On the shoulder of the Spire at 1500, winds were strong and gusting from many directions, mainly NE, but E and SW gusts were also observed. By 1530, the wind was sustained and strong from the N across White Pine, even in the trees. When we exited at 1700 there was clear evidence of wind transport at low elevations, including the skinner from the Red/White junction to the TH filled in completely for a few hundred feet. We did not directly observe any unstable snow because we were traveling off ridgelines and away from areas where snow would deposit, but it was clear that abundant snow transport was occurring. There was also enough unusual terrain channeling with strong enough winds at mid to low elevations for me to expect wind slabs in very unusual places tomorrow.
Comments
Skies were mostly cloudy at 1100, cloud deck around 10k feet by 1500. Much more snow than forecast, with rates up to S2 in upper WP for much of the afternoon. Snowing hard from 1400 or so onward. Solars have a crust from yesterday, and most northerlies were getting blasted by wind today.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable
Coordinates