Observation: Gold Hill

Observation Date
2/3/2025
Observer Name
Ted Scroggin
Region
Uintas » Gold Hill
Location Name or Route
Gold Hill
Weather
Sky
Obscured
Wind Direction
South
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Pretty mild weather for the first of February with no overnight freeze in town and it was nearly 45 degrees at the trailhead at 9:30 this morning. South winds stayed fairly brisk along the exposed ridges.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
8"
New Snow Density
High
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Wind Crust
Rain-Rime Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
Seems like the new snow from the weekend storm was in the range of 6-10" depending on where you were in Gold Hill. On the ridgelines the snow was pretty worked from strong winds, while in sheltered places the medium to high density snow helped fill in some old tracks and improve the riding and turning.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Cracking
Collapsing
Red Flags Comments
The winds were the big red flag today, even with somewhat high desity snow it was still being moved around creating some very touchy wind slabs. Seemed like as the afternoon went on the slab got a bit stiffer and I had a few decent rumbling collapses and cracking within the new snow.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
Found some touchy wind slabs, but it appeared they needed to be resting on the old weak snow surface where it was preserved. Out in more open areas I did not experience quite the sensitivity, but still lots of cracking and collapsing within the new snow.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #2 Comments
Not sure this storm really put enough stress on the snowpack to activate the persistent weak layer buried near the bottom of the pack, but the old weak snow surface prior to this recent storm where it is preserved is creating some unstable conditions.
Comments
Some touchy wind slabs today where the near surface faceted snow is preserved under the recent snow and wind. This wind slab broke as I was about 50' away on a little test area I like to visit to see what the winds are doing. I was a bit surprised to find this weak layer still preserved in such a windy location.
A bit of a refresh with new snow around the 6/8-10" in Gold Hill. I was still feeling old tracks and with flat light it was a bit underwhelming out in the open areas. In the tress and more protected places the conditions were pretty decent, although the snow was beginning to take on a little heat and get damp and sticky.
This storm did not do much at all around the trailhead and conditions around 8,300' are still kind of thin.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
None
Coordinates