Observation Date
12/27/2014
Observer Name
jg
Region
Uintas » Upper Weber Canyon » Smith-Moorehouse
Location Name or Route
Smith and Morehouse area
Weather
Sky
Clear
Wind Direction
Northwest
Wind Speed
Calm
Weather Comments
Cold, calm and clear early in the day with -10 at the trailhead at 7 a.m. Clouds and light wind from NW by late morning with clouds progressively covering the sky throughout the day.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments

Cold, light, settled powder on a supportable base. Can still feel the rain crust below the new snow below 8K.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Snow Profile
Aspect
Northeast
Elevation
9,900'
Slope Angle
26°
Comments

New snow instability on steep east facing slopes, what you would expect.

Traveled from 7400 ft.- 9900 ft., east half of the compass. Other than poor snow pack structure , there were no real red flags in the areas traveled today and no real results in snow pit tests. The old faceted snow surface interface is the most reactive but it was hard to initiate a fracture and the shears were resistant planar. The snow pack seems to be adjusting to it's new load and I saw no signs of natural slide activity in and around the area traveled. The poor snow pack structure still exists, moderate danger today but with new snow forecast tomorrow the danger could easily bump up to considerable depending on water weight and wind.

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