Quick report
- Red Flags
- Wind Loading, Poor Snowpack Structure
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>Only a minor red flag today in my travels, there was some gusty west winds at times that was finding just enough snow to blow around and form some shallow soft wind slabs along the higher ridge lines. The places I poked around today still have some fairly weak snow near the bottom of the snow pack, but the recent storms have added to the snow depth and my snow stability tests were indicating some gradual strengthening of the faceted snow. </p>
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>I did not see or hear of any recent avalanche activity on the north slope, but cannot forget about the deep slab issue that has been so active throughout the western Uintas. Many slopes that I have been observing through the winter have not avalanched and would still be very cautious in areas that have a thinner snow pack. </p> <p>Man you cannot never discount the winds in the Uintas, I was finding some minor wind drifts developing today mostly on north through east facing slopes. Nothing that I stomped on today was overly sensitive, but I was able to get some fresh small cornices to break below my skis with little effort. These were only 8-10" deep and they did not result in any avalanches as they tumbled down the slope. </p>
I was finding some nice settled dense powder on the shady aspects today, with the south facing slopes at higher elevations having a thin melt freeze crust that did soften early in the day. The riding and turning conditions are quite good right now at the mid and higher elevations.