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Observation: Mirror Lake Environs

Observation Date
12/19/2024
Observer Name
Nassetta/Manship
Region
Uintas » Mirror Lake Environs
Location Name or Route
Mirror Lake Highway
Weather
Sky
Few
Wind Direction
Northwest
Wind Speed
Calm
Weather Comments
Another beautiful, high-pressure morning we had on our hands. Temps were warm from the start, and thin cloud cover made things slightly feel green-housed. Winds were calm and skies went full blue around 1100. A few gusts from the NW came into play, but the winds were generally calm.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Characteristics Comments
Feels quite similar to where we were last year in terms of the snowpack. Add a little more snow and a little less wind and we are right we were last December!
Supportable, quality riding continues to exist on the north half of the compass, at upper elevations, specifically on NW and NE slopes with mellow slope angles. These specific slopes have a bit more structure than true north and help to keep our sleds and skis off the ground. Flip aspect to the solars, and many slopes are melted out or stripped of snow from the many miles of wind we received after the weekend storm.
Monitoring the most recent old snow/ new snow interface is my focus point with the weather incoming next week. This layer is well preserved, the most reactive in our stability test, and where we have seen our "recent" avalanches failing. I do not suspect it will take a ton to wake this problem up when the snow and weather returns.
In all mountain travels in the winter, I am on the lookout for rounded wind pillows, or wind drifts on specific terrain features like the one shown in the photo below.
ISA Forecaster Joey Manship sampling, with caution, some of the mellow meadows in the Mirror Lake Area. Our greatest hazard is back to being rocks and other buried objects beneath the surface as we wait for better coverage.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Low
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Low