Quick report
- Red Flags
- Wind Loading, Cracking, Collapsing, Poor Snowpack Structure
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>I did not observe wide spread collapsing in my short day out, but I experienced enough to feel there is still areas where the snowpack is adjusting to the recent load. The higher ridge lines were experiencing the wind drifting today and from a northeast direction, which we don't see a lot of. </p>
This small remote snowcat triggered slide from a day or two ago showing just how sensitive the snowpack was trying to adjust to all the new snow.
I wish the camera could better show how widespread the natural avalanche cycle was when the area was recieving all the heavy snow and wind. Many of the aprons and runouts on the east and south side of Bald Mtn, north side of Murdock Peak, and the west side of Hayden Peak are full of old avalanche debris, which has now been filled back in.
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>As the snow conditions begin to settle and feel better under our sleds and boards, I would be concerned that riders might start to get onto steeper slopes. There is not alot of in your face evidence of recent avalanches and I think many slopes are still waiting for a trigger to get things going.</p> <p>The southerly aspects may have the wind drifting issues for tomorrow, with tody's wind out of the northeast. </p>
Cold smoke today and it looked like the x-mas day storm has settled out to about 8". It is nice to see the Uintas so white and the riding conditions are getting quite good as things start to settle.