Join us at our 2nd Annual Blizzard Ball
Ad
The National Forest Service Logo
icon-add Observation
Forecasts
Logan Ogden Salt Lake Provo Uintas Skyline Moab Abajos Weather Archives How to read the forecast
Observations & Avalanches
Submit Observation Observations Explorer All Observations Avalanches Fatalities Weather Place Names Map Archives
Education
Avalanche Awareness Develop Skills On-Snow Courses Resources and Tutorials
Events
Store
About
Contact Who we are Core Values Staff Board of Directors Past Forecasters Sponsors Annual Reports Sign In
Blog
icon-add Observation
Donate / Join

Observation: UFO Bowls

Observation Date
12/16/2024
Observer Name
Hardesty
Region
Provo » Provo Canyon » North Fork Provo R. » UFO Bowls
Location Name or Route
Bob's Knob to UFO Bowl aprons
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Moderate
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
6"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments
Sundance Mid-Mountain picked up just over an inch of SWE during the Friday storm, with strong SW winds that followed. Still, total depths in low to mid-elevations are 1-2 feet.
Big theme = shallow snowpack = weak snowpack. Trailbreaking difficult as you are bottom-feeding through the facets to the ground.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Wind Loading
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Did not observe any red flags today other than poor structure, wind loading and a small wind pocket from the day prior (see observation).
Snow Profile
Elevation
8,800'
Comments
Travel was from Aspen Grove, up Bobs Knob gulley and up to the Primrose Overlook...across under UFO Bowl 1 apron and out the summer trail back to the Alpine Loop Road. Grim coverage.
See coverage photos below.
Snowpack up to 9000' was essentially 5 inches of settled snow from the Friday storm sitting above 15 inches of various layers of facets. Your biggest concern (beyond the shallow coverage) would be finding a recently wind loaded slope in the upper/upper-mid elevations. Pockets of Considerable likely today in these zones. I glassed the UFO Bowls and did not see any crowns or debris.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
Coordinates