Observation Date
2/1/2018
Observer Name
Weston Deutschlander
Region
Uintas » Upper Weber Canyon
Location Name or Route
Upper Weber Canyon
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Wind kept upper elevation snow cold, however mid and lower elevations felt the fuill wrath of the sun's rays when it peaked out from the clouds.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Wind Crust
Melt-Freeze Crust
Rain-Rime Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
Ran into a variety of snow surface conditions, most of them were pretty junky and inhibited riding conditions.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
The poorest structure that I have run into this season was today. Upper elevations, large grain facets with slabs on top.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
If there is a poor structure, and that poor structure is present pretty much everywhere at upper elevations, mind your slope angles. It is getting harder and harder to trigger them but the consequences have not diminished.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Problem #2 Comments
A pretty distant 2nd to the PWL, but still there. Evidence of wind transport was seen thru the day.
Snow Profile
Aspect
West
Elevation
10,400'
Slope Angle
32°
Comments
Surface texture from wind as well as a crack from artificial trigger.
Shallow snowpack, crack that went down to old snow/newish snow interface.
Old skier triggered slide in addition to a natural. Note the glaze from the firnspiegel.
Large radiating crack from artificial trigger. Even after a significant load was placed on this slope and we thought all energy had been removed; we got stability tests that said otherwise. IF THERE IS POOR STRUCTURE, BE WARY AND MIND YOUR SLOPE ANGLES.
E facing
39° slope
10,450
HS120cm
CTM SP ECTPV 55cm down
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
Coordinates
