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Observation: Upper Weber Canyon

Observation Date
1/18/2017
Observer Name
C Brown
Region
Uintas » Upper Weber Canyon
Location Name or Route
Upper Weber Canyon
Weather
Sky
Clear
Weather Comments
Beautiful day in the mountains, strong sun/solar radiation and warm temps. The tempature inversion remains with cold temps in the valley through the day, even at 14:30 it was still colder down low than at elevation. Calm winds, not even detectable at 10,500'. Due south face went off at 14:00 with great soft, supportable skiing.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Faceted Loose
Wind Crust
Melt-Freeze Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments

Quite a variety of snow conditions out there. Great skiing on the north aspects with no wind effect and soft settled faceted powder skiing. South half of the compass is sun baked by this point, SW and SE are unsupportable crust. Due south is supportable and softened today around 14:00. East aspects have anywhere from a skiable wind crust to a punchy not-so-skiable wind slab. West also seems to be cooked out and crusty. North and NE are skiing great!!

Red Flags
Red Flags
Rapid Warming
Red Flags Comments
Pretty stable looking out there. Even places that normally harbor bottomless facets have good supportable powder skiing. The HS in mid to upper elevation slopes seems to be about 150~240cm. Quite a deep pack with some minor buried weak layers, which are healing. The only major concern would be the weka surface snow. Widespread NSF and surface hoar. The surface hoar isn't nearly as developed or advanced as what I have seen in the wasatch. The feathers are very small. The NSF is the dominate weak surface snow.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Cornice
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments

Some of the cornices are quite large, and with the warming and strong sun today this was my main concern. With the approaching weather, overcast skies and cooler temps tomorrow these should be locking back up.

Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments

I think the very small possibility of the lingering dormant DS is still out there, but would take the right combination of factors lining up to produce an avalanche.

Comments

Picture below shows the just one example of the massive cornices that have grown off the ridge lines, and the non-result from an air blast.

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