Observation: Bald Mountain

Observation Date

12/18/2025

Observer Name

Ted Scroggin

Region

Uintas » Bald Mountain

Location Name or Route

Bald Mountain

Weather

Sky

Overcast

Wind Direction

Southwest

Wind Speed

Moderate

Weather Comments

A cooler start than the last several days of warm temperatures. Skies stayed mostly overcast, winds were a little brisk and in the moderate category from the southwest around mid day and then winds relaxed a little bit this afternoon.

Snow Characteristics

New Snow Depth

New Snow Density

High

Snow Surface Conditions

Powder

Wind Crust

Melt-Freeze Crust

Snow Characteristics Comments

Amazing how just a few inches of new higher density snow can improve the conditions. Not a real game changer out there, but the denser snow and quite a bit of grauple softened the surface snow and made for some acceptable turning out of the wind.

Red Flags

Wind Loading

Cracking

Collapsing

Poor Snowpack Structure

Red Flags Comments

The southwest winds were a bit gusty at times, but I did not see a lot of wind transported snow going on where I traveled. The big red flag which has been the case all season is the poor snowpack structure that continues to collapse and crack. I was getting several fairly large collapses traveling around on the north side of Bald Mountain. I was not finding much of a stiff slab, although the new snow and wind has stiffened things up some.

Avalanche Problem #1

Problem

Persistent Weak Layer

Trend

Same

Problem #1 Comments

The persistent weak layer is still collapsing where the snowpack is thin and rocky and the little bit of new snow and wind has increased the sensitivity some.

Avalanche Problem #2

Problem

Wind Drifted Snow

Trend

Decreasing Danger

Problem #2 Comments

I did not observe a lot of wind drifting while I was out there, but given the new snow and strong winds when the front moved in, some fresh wind drifts are possible.

Comments

I experienced several collapses and cracking as I traveled around the north side of Bald Mountain. This area is still thin, shallow and rocky with very weak snow near the ground.

The snow coverage on the north side of Bald Mountain is still on the thin side.

Looking over at Lofty and Mt. Marsell, the south facing slopes are nearly bare.

Today's Observed Danger Rating

Moderate

Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating

Moderate

Coordinates

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