Observation Date
3/25/2014
Observer Name
Ted Scroggin
Region
Uintas » Millcreek
Location Name or Route
Mill Creek
Weather
Sky
Clear
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Just a marginal refreeze this morning and temperatures were on the rise with a nice mild day in the mountains. Winds were generally light with a few stronger gusts.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Wind Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
I was still able to find nice settled powder on the higher north facing slopes with damp snow lower down. The lower elevations were starting to get a little punchy and unsupportable early afternoon. The conditions for traveling around are quite good at the mid and higher elevations with riders getting onto many steep slopes.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
The snow pack on this end of the range is thinner and has more developed facets near the ground, than I was finding in the Whitney area last week. I did not have any alarming stability tests in the snow pit I dug, even though weak faceted snow still makes up much of the lower snow pack.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
The snow pack seemed rather relaxed today with no old wind slab issues. With the approaching storm a fresh round of wind drifts are likely.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #2 Comments
With each new snow and strong wind event the snow pack in the thin rocky areas continues to have avalanches. I noticed some older slides at the upper end of the Mill Creek drainage. These were on east and northeast facing slopes and looked to have been triggered by cornice fall.
Comments
The upper elevation exposed terrain has really been worked over by last week's strong winds.
These older slides from last week's strong winds on east and northeast facing slopes were likey triggered from cornice fall. The snow pack is still thin and weak in many of these higher elevation rocky areas. Not a great photo, but tried to show the debris piles from these more recent slides.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
