Observation: Whitney Basin
Observation Date: 
04/12/2017
Observer Name: 
Ted Scroggin

Region:

  • Uintas
Location Name or Route: 
Whitney Basin
Weather
Sky: 
Clear
Wind Direction: 
South
Wind Speed: 
Light
Weather Comments: 
Clear skies, very light south winds on the ridgelines and a shallow refreeze with snow softening quickly.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions: 
Dense Loose
Wind Crust
Melt-Freeze Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments: 

Nice spring snow conditions with soft damp snow early on the south facing slopes and good settled dry snow on sheltered north slopes. The snow from this past weekend is holding up quite nice, with just a few wet snow balls on south and east facing slopes today around the 10,000' elevation.  

Red Flags
Red Flags: 
Rapid Warming
Red Flags Comments: 
No red flags noticed today, but the recent snow and quick warm~up should see some wet snow issues.
Avalanche Problem #1
Type: 
Loose Wet Snow
Trend: 
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments: 

Very minor wet snow issues up around 10,000' with some wet roller balls and snow becoming damp on all but the high sheltered north facing slopes.  

Avalanche Problem #2
Type: 
Wind Slab
Trend: 
Decreasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments: 

Just off the ridge lines on north through east facing slopes, the snow would crack out around skis and sleds, but nothing would move.  I would think in the high alpine zone on steep slopes a person could find an isolated wind slab that could still be sensitive, but generally things seemed pretty stable. 

Comments: 

A little dry road to deal with at the gate, but plenty of snow on the sides to get up the highway.  Still good coverage on the bottom of the Whitney Road, with just a few dirt spots showing.  

Around the 10,000' elevation, very minor wet issues and just a couple of loose dry snow sluffs.

The Uintas are still holding onto a nice deep stable snow pack right now and the riding and turning should continue for some time. 

Today's Observed Danger Rating: 
Low
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating: 
Moderate
Snow Profile Coordinates: 
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