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Observation: Payson Canyon

Observation Date
2/17/2014
Observer Name
Darce Trotter
Region
Provo » Payson Canyon
Location Name or Route
Payson Canyon, Nebo Loop Road
Weather
Sky
Few
Wind Direction
West
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
good refreeze overnight, high overcast keep things from heating up today, evidence of lots of wind from SW with ridgetops blown clean, had to take skis off once to scamper to top of ridge from southwest, no snow, but found it on the other side
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Melt-Freeze Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments

did not dig pit, we all know what is there, only thing new is MF/suncrust on all aspects, 1" thick at 9400',. 2"+ at 8400' now caps the whole shebang

Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Wind Loading
Cracking
Rapid Warming
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
found one pocket NE facing that had wind loaded and released some time yesterday, was starting to fill in again, lots of east facing older activity from earlier in the week end
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments

pockets are still available in the right places

Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #2 Comments

no new big load since the earlier weekend, but plenty of paths that have not run, not to be trusted, was curious to see what kind of traffic area would get today, also to see what natural activity had occurred. Did find one cutback that had been released by machine that looked a day or so old

Comments

triple naturals on Dry Mountain

grooming not up to standards, but at least I had the place all to myself, did not see a single person and left at noon, back down Payson side

but at least there was a breakable crust everywhere

crust was even healthier at 8400' east facing

Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable
Coordinates