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Observation: Pahvant Range

Observation Date
12/29/2016
Observer Name
Toddeo
Region
Southwest » Pahvant Range
Location Name or Route
Pahvants - Mountain Sheep Canyon
Weather
Weather Comments
Warm day in the mountains, walking with no jaceket and no gloves felt good. Valley is inverted and cold.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Wind Crust
Melt-Freeze Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments

Generally weak faceting powder in most areas. Sun exposed areas at low elevations were damp or crusted depending location and time of day.

Some very minor wind crusts on exposed ridgelines.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Poor snowpack structure is more of a red flag to come. The cold weather has weakend the surface snow. With the exception of sluffing in steep locations, there is not much of a concern currently. The concern will come when new snow is added.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Normal Caution
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments

Normal caution, generally low danger in the area traveled to day. I would speculate a moderate hazard in higher, wind loaded areas. The snow pack in this area is about 30 inches, Obstacles are still present.

Snow Profile
Aspect
West
Elevation
8,500'
Slope Angle
25°
Comments

HS = 28-30"

Basal 4-5" consist of frozen melt forms, pencil hardness. This is similar to what I saw in the Maple Hollow area 2 weeks ago. Generally a good basal layer to have.

The mid pack consist of 2 finger hardness rounds.

The upper pack consists of weakening and faceting snow that grades from 4 finger to fist hardness.

I also dug a quick pit on a northeast-facing slope at the head of Copelys Canyon (due east of my pit location) and found similar conditions.

Overall the surface snow seems to be weakening.

Photos below:

1. Upper Copleys canyon, I dug a quick pits on the foreground slope.

2. The terrain in Cedar Spring Canyon from my past observations, this area is now sled access only (or a really long trudge even by Pahvant standards).

Overall a low danger in the area traveled today but I would still have some concerns in the upper more exposed areas I would speculate a moderate hazard in these areas and am not ready to say low for the whole range.

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