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Observation: Mirror Lake Highway

Observation Date
4/16/2015
Observer Name
jg
Region
Uintas » Mirror Lake Highway
Location Name or Route
Mirror Lake Higway - Pass Lake Area
Weather
Sky
Broken
Wind Direction
Northeast
Wind Speed
Strong
Weather Comments
Temps reached the low to mid 30's at 9K. Strong winds blowing from the NE with gusts in the 40's and 50's. Sun was in and out with periods of light snow and the cloud ceiling dropping and obscurring the tops of the high peaks
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
4"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Dense Loose
Wind Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments

The winds hammered the snow in the upper elevation, open terrain. Even well off the high ridges snow was being transported and cross loading slopes and gullies.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Cracking
Rapid Warming
Red Flags Comments
Wind was the red flag of the day.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wet Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Comments

The Mirror Lake Highway is open to about mile marker 21. For the next two miles or so, the snow is patchy on the road with more pavement than snow.

While I was able to find some shallow soft slabs to break and slide, they were not as widespread as I had imagined. It seemed the wind was blowing the snow into oblivion. I was also finding a lot of crossed loaded gullies in my travels. I'm sure there are stubborn wind slabs out there waiting for the weight of a person or sled so keep that in mind when traveling above cliffs, rocks or terrain traps.

WIND

Lots of terrain blown down to the dirty old snow surface.

Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate