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Observation Date
2/5/2015
Observer Name
jg
Region
Uintas » Upper Weber Canyon
Location Name or Route
Upper Weber Canyon-Slader Basin/Gardner's Fork
Weather
Sky
Scattered
Wind Direction
West
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Ambient air temp in the upper 30's at 10K. Moderate winds from the WSW with periods of strong gusts.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Dense Loose
Faceted Loose
Wind Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments

About 4.5" of settled new snow since Saturday/Sunday. Winds from the WSW moving snow in the upper elevation wind exposed terrain off ridge lines, cross-loading slopes and filling in skin and ski tracks. Winds kept the upper elevation snow from getting damp and northerly slopes were soft and creamy.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Cracking
Collapsing
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Winds were moving snow today. Only one incident of cracking. Experienced a few handfuls of very audible collapses today, which I haven't experienced in quite a while.
Snow Profile
Aspect
Northwest
Elevation
10,100'
Slope Angle
25°
Comments

Collapse and subsequent cracking.

The lower elevation terrain is taking a beating with the warm temps and the trailhead is a muddy mess by day's end. The upper elevation terrain was still holding soft snow due to wind and thin cloud cover. A more reactive snowpack where we were traveling today compared to other places I have been, but no load to get things moving. The upper portion of the pack is experiencing a temperature gradient right now and the weakest interface in about 12" from the snow surface where the gradient begins.

Wind loading and warm temps are the dangers to look out for in the near future.

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