Observation Date
2/24/2025
Observer Name
Ted Scroggin
Region
Uintas » Whitney Basin
Location Name or Route
Whitney Basin
Weather
Sky
Few
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Warm day with mid thirties at the trail head around 9:30, the winds were generally light until you got onto the ridge lines where they were steady and blowing some snow. Skies cleared as the day went on and the temperatures increased. I had to remove the hood and side pannels to keep the sled cool riding back to the trail head.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Dense Loose
Wind Crust
Melt-Freeze Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
The snow conditions held up pretty well even with just a superficial freeze. It was damp with a melt freeze crust on the sunny aspects, while the north side of the compass had dense settled snow that rode quite well for a good part of the morrning. The winds helped keep the wet activity in check around the Whitney area.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Wind Loading
Rapid Warming
Red Flags Comments
The recent avalanche activity that I observed was in the distance and could not verify much other than it is still possible to trigger avalanches on different aspects. The moderate southwest winds were blowing and drifting snow onto the leeward slopes on the north side of the compass. The temperatures were quite warm today, but I did not observe any wet activity due to the elevation I visited.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
Lots of avalanche activity reported the last few days and it looks like the tricky snow pack is not to be trusted quite yet. It's easy to get in the mind set of things are ok based on all the slopes that have not avalanched and there are not a lot of red flags to grab your attention.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
Today's winds were finding snow to blow and drift creating some shallow fresh wind slabs off the ridge lines.
Comments
Not sure the time frame of this slide which looked to be a cornice fall on Double Hill. Unsure if it broke into deeper older snow, but this slope has stayed thin and bushy most of the winter and there was not a lot of snow left to slide.
Maybe some recent slides over in the northwest area of Moffit Peak, one of these looks fairly recent with the toe of the debris easily seen.
The roofs were shedding snow with the warm temperatures.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
None
Coordinates
