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Observation: Mirror Lake Environs

Observation Date
1/28/2024
Observer Name
Staples, Gardiner, Berry, Dyer, Bagnell
Region
Uintas » Mirror Lake Environs
Location Name or Route
Middle Fk of Weber River
Weather
Sky
Few
Wind Speed
Calm
Weather Comments
After a chilly start, the day felt more like March or April with strong sunshine and warm temps
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Density
High
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments
Go anywhere hero conditions. However sunny slopes got quite wet today, but shady slopes will still have soft dry powder.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Collapsing
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
We had a surprising number of collapses today. Several collapses seemed to happen over a large area.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
There's a widespread weak layer, and it's easy to find but easy to forget about. All the collapses we got were a good reminder that the layer is there.
However, here's the thing - the weak layer that was collapsing is different in the starting zones. Better or worse? I don't know, but I know it's different because most avalanche paths have certainly avalanched one or more times.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wet Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #2 Comments
Lots of roller balls today. A few small wet loose avalanches.
Comments
Lots of unknowns with the snowpack and the PWL. Here's what I know:
  1. we had many collapses today (a bad sign)
  2. we didn't see any avalanches on the PWL nor were there any reports of any
  3. the odds of triggering a slide on the PWL have gone down a lot, but they are not zero.
  4. the best places to trigger a slide on facets is in a thin area near a rock (photo below)
Video
There were some dry loose sluffs of the new snow from Thursday (first photo). There were also some loose wet slides (second photo)
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
Coordinates