Observation: Gold Hill

Observation Date

12/21/2025

Observer Name

Ted Scroggin

Region

Uintas » Gold Hill

Location Name or Route

Gold Hill

Weather

Sky

Overcast

Wind Direction

Southwest

Wind Speed

Moderate

Weather Comments

Warm and windy day that did not feel like late December. The southwest winds were quite gusty with blowing and drifting snow coming off the High Peaks. At 9:00 this morning the temperature was already 38 degrees and the slab of snow on the shop roof was avalanching off. There was some light snowfall in Gold Hill, but on my way out it was trying to rain.

Snow Characteristics

New Snow Depth

12"

New Snow Density

Medium

Snow Surface Conditions

Powder

Damp

Snow Characteristics Comments

The weekend storm which added up to about 10-12" of medium dense snow has really helped build a base and improve the riding conditions. The snow was already damp this morning at the trailhead and conditions were getting thin on the highway riding home.

Red Flags

Recent Avalanches

Heavy Snowfall

Wind Loading

Collapsing

Poor Snowpack Structure

Red Flags Comments

Many red flags observed today after the recent storm delivered around a foot of dense wind blown snow which overloaded the weak snowpack resulting in a pretty widespread natural avalanche cycle in Gold Hill.

Avalanche Problem #1

Problem

Persistent Weak Layer

Trend

Same

Problem #1 Comments

The persistent weak layer received a heavy dense storm with lots of wind and finally reached the breaking point and many slopes I observed in Gold Hill avalanched naturally. The common theme was steep, thin and rocky.

Avalanche Problem #2

Problem

Wind Drifted Snow

Trend

Same

Problem #2 Comments

The winds today were steady and quite strong from the southwest and blowing and drifting was observed along the high exposed peaks.

Comments

Several photos of the natural avalanche cycle that I came across in Gold Hill today. All the boxes checked for: steep, thin and rocky with a poor snowpack structure that was overloaded with the weekend storm.

The riding conditions are improving with these warm dense storms helping to build a base.