Observation Date
1/3/2025
Observer Name
Ted Scroggin
Region
Uintas » Gold Hill
Location Name or Route
Gold Hill
Weather
Sky
Scattered
Wind Direction
South
Wind Speed
Strong
Weather Comments
Partly cloudy till around early afternoon and then overcast skies with quite strong winds on the ridgelines. Mild temperatures for the first week of January.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
6"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments
Much improved snow conditions with fairly supportable riding, although I was trenching into weak snow near bushes and willows. Looks like around 4-6" from yesterdays storm and the Gold Hill area looks quite good.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Collapsing
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
A few collapses today moving around, one seemed large and heart stopping while the others felt more localized. The December weak layer is now buried under a couple feet of snow, but it is still unstable with test scores.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
The snow pack was starting to adjust a little bit to the big holiday storms and now more heavy snow and wind are forecasted this weekend. Snow pit scores are still showing unstable snow with a column of snow propagating a crack across the column.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
Fairly strong south winds today and a fresh round of sensitive wind drifts were observed along the ridgelines. These drifts were starting to get a bit beefy breaking up to a foot deep.
Comments
Pretty good riding conditions in Gold Hill today, I found mostly supportable snow except for around bushes and vegetation. The occasional stump and rock are still lurking out there, but the coverage has gotten a lot better.
The snow depths have really increased, but all the new snow is sitting on the weak December layer and is still unstable.
Fresh wind drifts today from strong south winds were easily breaking up to a foot deep.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable
Coordinates
