Observation Date
1/17/2014
Observer Name
Darce Trotter/ Steve Cote
Region
Skyline » Huntington Canyon » Left Fork Huntington Canyon » Seeley Canyon
Location Name or Route
Seeley Canyon, Wasatch Plateau
Weather
Sky
Clear
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
good visibility today allowed us a good look around, big wind event evident, upper basin floor was covered with 2' sustrugi with brush sticking out, ridgetops stripped to dirt, crossloading, extensive wind damage evident everywhere.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Wind Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
pack is stronger where wind affected, would support machines, but in sheltered areas and pockets not wind affected, machines would auger in, trail breaking on skis was a wallowing sandbox with just enough wind crust on top to make it really miserable, all in all, not much in the way of good skiing, highly variable,
Getting around is improved in some areas, but shallow pack, logs, stumps, weak snow, and variability still limiting getting into very extreme terrain difficult, concerned as slab strengthens to allow more access.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
the lack of activity in the higher terrain did little to inspire confidence. snowpit in wind affected terrain did show increasing strength in slab, but if you found shallow rocky areas with thinner weaker slab, consequences will be extreme. This is not the year to hang it out in this terrain.
Avalanche Problem #1
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
likelihood diminishes with time, but consequences remain dire with large unsurvivable avalanches possible,
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Cornice
Trend
Same
Problem #2 Comments
large cornices starting to look tired, but still a hazard
Snow Profile
Aspect
North
Elevation
9,600'
Slope Angle
31°
Comments
took a look at some wind effected area to see how strong slab is getting, with such high variability in pack, snow would change every 20' but slab looked more consistent in heavily wind loaded areas, well connected as demonstrated by recent activity on wedding ring ridge
Video
concerned that all of upper seely canyon saw no activity and while stubborn to initiate, we did not trust any of it and stayed away. the area to the right in photo is very rocky, runs often with twin avalanches,
Phone shot with no activity, another suspect slope
Big Drift just not living up to its name this year
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable
Coordinates
