Observation Date
12/28/2013
Observer Name
Ted Scroggin
Region
Uintas » Mirror Lake Highway
Location Name or Route
Hwy 150-Murdock Basin and Bald Mtn.
Weather
Sky
Broken
Wind Direction
West
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Cloudy start to the day with some clearing late in the afternoon. No new measurable snow, but a few snow flakes trying to fall.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Faceted Loose
Wind Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
There is some nice settled powder in sheltered areas, with some wind slab mixed in. The riding and turning conditions are still thin and rocky in the upper elevations with the best snow in mid-elevation protected terrain.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Cracking
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Did not see any real recent avalanches, but still cannot ignore the weak snow pack throughout the range.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
I think it's still possible to trigger avalanches given the right terrain and the current snow pack set-up. Steep thin rocky terrain would be likely places where an avlanche could be triggered.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
Upper elevations like around Bald Mt. have been worked over by recent winds and there could be some wind slabs that are still sensitive to the weight of a rider.
Comments
1. The coverage in the higher elevations is still somewhat thin and rocky and recent winds have not helped to improve the riding and turning conditions. 2. Terrain that is steep, thin and rocky would be likely places where a person could trigger an avalanche.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
