Snowpack

Observation: Bald Mountain

P DiegelUintas
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Quick report

Red Flags
Wind Loading
Red Flags Comment
<p>Looked carefully for signs of recent avalanche activity and saw none but major wind deposits were obvious.</p>

Snow at about 10k ft near Mirror Lake on a sheltered gentle NW slope was about 150 cm deep, 1 to 4 finger hardness except for about 30 cm well preserved facets at the ground. Potential of a wind slab stepping down the ground? Seems unlikely but with terrible consequences.

Wind activity - red flag

Snowpack

Instability Comment
<p>Pockets of wind deposited snow on E &amp; NE slopes seem very likely</p>

Surface snow in sheltered areas was not yet showing signs of surface hoar and was generally loose and unconsolidated.  Lots of evidence of wind transport on the ridgelines - plumes, sculpting, cornices, drifts forming across the road on Bald Mtn pass.