Observer Name
Ryan Shea
Observation Date
Saturday, May 18, 2024
Avalanche Date
Monday, May 20, 2024
Region
Uintas » Bald Mountain
Location Name or Route
Bald Mtn
Elevation
11,800'
Aspect
South
Trigger
Natural
Depth
2.5'
Width
200'
Snow Profile Comments
Large cornices (7-10') were likely trigger from warming. Cornice appeared to trigger the Avy with. - 2-3' crown on 35-40 degree slope south facing
noted previous storm consolidated to 8-10" of a soft/wet slab on top of weak/wer snow.
this was not at all the isothermic consolidated pack we had expected or hoped for.
Comments
Evidence of wet slides all over the bald mountain pass aspects and surrounding mountains from previous days of heat.
Slide on south face appeared to be cornice triggered and broke 2-3ft
Snow form last storm consolidated to 8-10" of wet slabby surface on top of a wet unsupportive 10-15" of snow before very compact snow. This was definitely not a strong spring snow pack and warrants further evaluation each day.
We did sled and ski the E/NE side of Bald mountain with no issues, so that slabby top layer was not reactive though seems to be connected. It seemed that top layer just is not strong enough to be a true slab capable of propagating.
Added some additional pics of smaller slides on east side of bald mtn / Reid's peak shoulder and tried to show that top layer of suspect harder snow
Video
Coordinates