Observation: Whiskey Creek

Observation Date

12/30/2025

Observer Name

Ted Scroggin

Region

Uintas » Whiskey Creek

Location Name or Route

Whiskey Creek

Weather

Sky

Clear

Wind Direction

Northwest

Wind Speed

Calm

Weather Comments

Clear and cool, but not too cold for the end of December. The northwest winds were light and a very pleasant day in the mountains.

Snow Characteristics

Snow Surface Conditions

Dense Loose

Faceted Loose

Melt-Freeze Crust

Damp

Snow Characteristics Comments

The snow quality is holding up quite well on the cool shady aspects, with a bit of damp snow lower down. The surface snow has weakened some on the cool north facing slopes, but the riding and turning is very good despite the meager winter thus far.

Red Flags

Poor Snowpack Structure

Red Flags Comments

No red flags observed today with the quiet weather, the snowpack structure is still something to watch, but my test results were not alarming today. The column of snow only cracked and did not propagate.

Avalanche Problem #1

Problem

Persistent Weak Layer

Trend

Decreasing Danger

Problem #1 Comments

Kind of felt like you need to be in the right terrain to get the persistent weak layer to collapse. The usual suspects would be; shady, thin and rocky with a slab over the weak layer. I'm still not sure how the x-mas eve rain crust is going to affect the snowpack.

Felt like the hazard is trending a little towards low, with the exception of the upper elevation zones.

Comments

Just enough snow to unload and get out of the trailhead with the first few miles of the highway quite thin. Up around Sulphur Campground the snow depth and conditions get much better.

A few minor sluffs of the weakening surface snow observed in the high exposed terrain.

A snow pit to help track the development of the winter thus far.

Today's Observed Danger Rating

Moderate

Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating

Low

Coordinates

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