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Observation Date
1/28/2014
Observer Name
jg
Region
Uintas » Upper Weber Canyon
Location Name or Route
Upper Weber Canyon
Weather
Sky
Clear
Wind Direction
Northwest
Wind Speed
Calm
Weather Comments
Clouds streamed in and out the latter half of the day but mostly clear today. High clouds were beginning to fill the sky by the time I left the trailhead around 5:00. Winds were calm but a few periods of light to moderate wind; did not observe any snow transport.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Dense Loose
Faceted Loose
Wind Crust
Melt-Freeze Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments

Mixed snow surface depending on elevation and aspect. North still holding soft, creamy snow.

Surface hoar on lower elevation shady slopes.

Near surface faceting on upper elevation slopes.

Wind affected snow on N, NW to W facing slopes. Shallow wind drifts noted but generally not that sensitive and not moving far.

Solar crusts on south and some west facing slopes.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Cracking
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Wind loading and cracking were minimal. Poor snowpack structure is the biggest red flag.
Snow Profile
Aspect
North
Elevation
10,100'
Slope Angle
30°
Comments

Traveled from 7400-10,500, all aspects, slope angles to 38°. Again, avoided east facing slopes and did not ski south aspects.

My pit showed mixed results but I did not get results from my ECT. CT tests MOSTLY had no results but two collapsed at the ground with easy to moderate effort. Facets are rounding and necking.

If the forecasted snow and water actually come to fruition we will see increasing danger over the next several days, especially if the wind gets involved. Snow surfaces are weak and the overall snow pack structure is even weaker on the north half of the compass. Step down avalanches will be a concern over the weekend if we do get the water weight.

Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate