Sign Up for the Utah Snow and Avalanche Workshop (USAW) on December 7th!
Ad
The National Forest Service Logo
icon-add Observation
Forecasts
Logan Ogden Salt Lake Provo Uintas Skyline Moab Abajos Weather Archives How to read the forecast
Observations & Avalanches
Submit Observation Observations Explorer All Observations Avalanches Fatalities Place Names Map Archives
Education
Avalanche Awareness Develop Skills On-Snow Courses Resources and Tutorials
Events
Store
About
Contact Who we are Core Values Staff Board of Directors Past Forecasters Sponsors Annual Reports Sign In
Blog
icon-add Observation
Donate / Join

Observation: Bald Mountain

Observation Date
12/16/2023
Observer Name
Ted Scroggin
Region
Uintas » Bald Mountain
Location Name or Route
Bald Mt.
Weather
Sky
Few
Wind Speed
Calm
Weather Comments
Another mostly sunny day with calm winds and mild temps even above 10k.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Faceted Loose
Wind Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
Snow conditions around the Bald Mt. area are quite different than what I observed in Whitney Basin. The snow pack is a bit more shallow and much of the exposed terrain has really been worked over by east and northwest winds. The surface snow is weak from the extended high pressure we are having and there is some rock hard wind board mixed in.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Similiar snow pack structure with a dense slab over the weak early season snow near the ground. The ECT scores were a little lower in this area with ECTP 14 and 16.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
It felt like the snow pack at this higher elevation was a bit more reactive with snow pit tests and a slightly more shallow snow depth. The hazard could be a bit more elevated in this area, but getting into avalanche terrain is pretty limited with lots of big rocks and punchy snow around vegetation.
Comments
Old news, but noticed this old natural avalanche that fits the description Craig has been talking about in his forecasts. Steep rocky and thin places where a cornice or rock fall may have triggered this avalanche.
The upper elevation terrain around Bald Mt. has really been worked over with winds and the snow is still on the thin side.
I took a quick look on the cold shady north side of Bald Mt. and it did not look very inviting with lots of rocks still and the aprons below Reids Peak looked like it had gone through a natural avalanche cycle during the stormy period.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Low
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Low
Coordinates