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Observation: Seely Canyon

Observation Date
3/21/2014
Observer Name
Darce Trotter/Steve Cote/Carey Pierce
Region
Skyline » Huntington Canyon » Left Fork Huntington Canyon » Seeley Canyon
Location Name or Route
Seely Canyon, Wasatch Plateau
Weather
Sky
Few
Wind Direction
West
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
High thin cloud cover kept temps from climbing and limited radiation warming of snow even on south facing slopes. Extensive wind damage evident everywhere, dirt blown onto snow, wind slab/crusts widespread, highly variable, and ranging from very hard to breakable within short distances. No new snow in the last week, Tuesday storm wind damaged nearly all the snow surfaces, blew bark off the trees, and reached even into more protected trees leaving the skiing pretty interesting
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Faceted Loose
Wind Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments

In tight trees creamy recystalized snow was fun, but never lasted more than 100' before turning into hard windboard, to breakable crust, then back again. The more open the space the more wind damage. Even S facing slopes at 10,000' have not cooked down to supportable corn. Cornices still big but looking old and tired today, fetches likely blown to dirt looking at how widespread dust on surface was

Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Rapid Warming
Red Flags Comments
crossloading, and other extreme eroding and movement of anything available begs the question of where you could trigger windslab but look enough, you could probably find some. big time heating has not happened enough to breakdown wind crusts, but this time of year high sun angle will be a player in the next few days.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments

moderate risk in extreme terrain

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

Things are bound to heat up in the next few days

Comments

Pic of old crown still evident from big cycle in Feb

dust patterns in upper basin

East facing upper basin dust patterns

130 cm on Miller Flat stake

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