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Observation Date
1/3/2016
Observer Name
jg
Region
Uintas » Upper Weber Canyon » Weber Canyon
Location Name or Route
Weber Canyon
Weather
Sky
Scattered
Wind Direction
South
Weather Comments
Scattered to broken skies, moderate winds generally from the south but blowing from the SW and SE as well. Temps warmer then they have been in a while with 10K temps in the upper twenties/lower thirties.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Dense Loose
Faceted Loose
Wind Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments

It was obvious the wind has been blowing. Widespread wind affected snow and plenty of signs of the east winds.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Cracking
Rapid Warming
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Not a lot of active windloading where we were today but plenty of signs of recents winds. I wouldn't say rapid warming but when the sun did come out it was noticeable.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Same
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Snow Profile
Aspect
Northwest
Elevation
10,200'
Slope Angle
29°
Comments

Isolated wind slabs on the ridgelines.

Alpine terrain showing signs of the recent winds with slopes blown down to rock.

A natural from the solstice storm on a steep NE facing slope at 10,200

Observed faceting and near surface faceting of the snow surface.

CT's failed with moderate to hard effort with Q2 shears. ECT did not propagate but cracked partially at a diagonal through the block and cracked on the basal facets but did not propagate through the column.

Moderate danger observed in the area traveled today. Moderate again tomorrow. Considerable in terrain with recent deposits of wind loaded snow.

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