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Observation: Still Water - Right Hand Fork

Observation Date
3/16/2025
Observer Name
John Mletschnig
Region
Uintas » Hwy 150 Environs » Still Water - Right Hand Fork
Location Name or Route
East Fork Bear River
Weather
Sky
Scattered
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Strong
Weather Comments
West winds in the morning shifted WSW/bumped from Mod to Strong in alpine with intense snow transport above 11k in main range.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
6"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Wind Crust
Melt-Freeze Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
Mostly clear weather in the morning had its way with solar aspects. Steep SE slopes had wet loose activity. As winds continued and built through the day most sheltered terrain even saw some surface wind effect. Loaded areas 10k and up were reactive to ski cuts in surface snow only, though I would suspect a natural avalanche cycle took place in the high country (above 11k) with the intensity of the loading through the day. Complete ground blizzard above 11500'.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Wind Loading
Cracking
Rapid Warming
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Sheltered area in East Fork: NNE at 10500' showed HS~175cm with a 'basket o facets' down 90cm ~1F-F transition (non repeater path). No formal tests preformed. Plenty of weak snow- just perhaps short on a rapid weight to be reactive into old snow.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
Direct action wind slab activity within the new snow was easy to initiate. Ski cuts on crossloaded NE @10000' 36 Deg. produced D1.5 40cm deep. No old snow involved. Hard slab activity expected in the alpine with high potential for step down slides into PWL N-NE-ENE
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #2 Comments
Areas with new load from wind transport are highly suspect, particularly in repreater paths.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable
Coordinates