Observation Date
12/23/2015
Observer Name
Kikkert
Region
Uintas » Upper Weber Canyon » 1000 Peaks
Location Name or Route
Upper Weber Canyon
Weather
Sky
Obscured
Precipitation
Moderate Snowfall
Wind Direction
Northwest
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Snowfall was squally during the day, with moderate periods of snow followed by an attempt to clear. However, sort of kept going all day, and when I left at 530 it was still snowing. Winds seems to shift towards the NW by mid morning and increase a bit. I didn't get up too high today, but 9000' ridgelines were probably around 20 with gusts in the 30s. Seems like the were increasing toward evening, at least at the cabin they seems to pick up, but can't verify what happend up high due to Windy Peak station being down.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
14"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments
Looked like about 14 in 24 hours at 9AM and about 8 overnight. Density was 8%, but it was heavier in most places due to wind effect.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Heavy Snowfall
Wind Loading
Cracking
Collapsing
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
All the red flags still present, which is good, snowpack is still communicating its crankiness (worry a bit more when the signs are not so obvious). Didn't submit seperate avalanches, as I got some 2nd hand, but feel free to add something on naturals in upper Weber Canyon. East facing No Name Bowl slid to the ground, had a bit of new snow on the bed surface, so probably overnight. There was one sympathetic release, not exactly sure on location, think it was somewhere in the Giant Steps area. Explosive testing on some 30 degree slopes in the mid elevations (~8,500') got the snowpack to crack to the ground, but the slabs didn't move far due to slope angle and lots of shruby anchors still present.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
There will be some new ones tomorrow, but there wasn't anything too major today.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #2 Comments
Continued natural and human triggered activity as described above. Problem less pronounced at the mid-elevation non-northerly facing slopes where the basal facet layer is shallower and anchored a bit by scrub. Mid-elevation northerly a bit more suspect.
Snow Profile
Aspect
Northwest
Elevation
8,900'
Slope Angle
37°
Comments
Pit from a WNW facing slope at mid-elevation. Most the snowpack is composed of new snow, with minor density changes in the new snow. Basal facets are shallow and capped with a relative stout crust. CT columns would fail on isolation at the basal facets, but ECTs would not fail or propagate on the basal facets. Even though I think these areas will not pose too much of a problem in the future, I still wouldn't touch a steep one right now. Skiing was kept to low angle slopes.
Photos show a large deep slab that failed with explosives. Slope was small and barely 30 degrees, so it cracked, failing to the ground, but only slid about 6 inches before the slab arrested due to slope angle and anchors. Separate slope did the same thing with a shot.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
High
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
High
