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Observation: Weber Canyon

Observation Date
2/22/2013
Observer Name
jg
Region
Uintas
Location Name or Route
Weber Canyon
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Wind Direction
North
Wind Speed
Calm
Weather Comments
Mostly cloudy. Sun poked out a few times and I saw bits of blue sky. Light winds from the NW. Mostly no snow or very light snow but a few times in the afternoon there were short periods of S1 snowfall. Temps in the mid to upper teens.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
10"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments

This was a good storm for Weber Canyon - 4"-12" of light density storm snow depending on elevation. Softened things up nicely.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Collapsing
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
I got one good collapse today at just under 9000' on a nw facing slope in an area with a lot of talus under the snow. It is a good example of finding that one sweet spot to collapse a slope.
Comments

Traveled from 7400'-10,000', N thru NW, angles to 35 degrees.

The two faceting events in January are still showing results in CT's and the shears were pretty clean today (Q2) in the area I was traveling - (CT15-20) on small grain rounding facets from the late Jan. faceting event, about 15"-18" (37-45cm) down in the pack. I got clean Q2 shears on the facets from early Jan. when I kept beating on the column (CT19-25). I had no results from ECT tests.

Yesterday's instability of the new snow/old snow seams to have settled out.

Lots of new soft snow available for transport so wind loading will need to be kept in mind this weekend.

I noticed that over this last dry spell the snowmachines have gotten further out into the backcountry. With new snow and wind the danger will be quite different than last week.

Pit @ 9000', NW aspect, 28 degree slope. HS53"(137cm). CT18Q2 on top line in the snow pit.

Pit at 9900' on a NW aspect, 32 degree slope, HS 59" (150cm). CT20Q2 where crystal card is in the pit.