Observation: Upper Weber Canyon

Observation Date
12/20/2016
Observer Name
Kikkert, Gordon, Brown, Duetchlander
Region
Uintas » Upper Weber Canyon
Location Name or Route
Upper Weber Canyon
Weather
Sky
Few
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Clear and mostly sunny. Winds light in most places, but stronger on exposed ridges, blowing from the WSW. Biggest weather factor of the day is that it was quite warm. Snow below approximately 9K was getting damp.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Dense Loose
Snow Characteristics Comments

Outside of upper elevation wind damaged terrain, snow was nice creamy settled powder, damp below 9K.

Red Flags
Red Flags Comments
No real red flags, but one weak layer worth keeping an eye on, see below.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Problem #1 Comments

Approximately 30 cm down is a layer of light density snow that faceted a little early last week prior to the last storm. Could get failure on this layer on compression tests, but not on ECTs. There just wasn't enough of a slab. Explosive testing in the same location got this upper 30 cm to crack, but not move, again due to the lack of slab. Would be worth investigation/treating with caution in more wind loaded terrain. Other than this layer, the snowpack is looking really good, mostly homogenous well bonded snow with no weak layers of note. However, we did not look at high north facing slopes, which likely harbor weaker snow.

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