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Observation: Upper Weber Canyon

Observation Date
3/17/2018
Observer Name
Kikkert
Region
Uintas » Upper Weber Canyon
Location Name or Route
Upper Weber Canyon
Weather
Sky
Obscured
Precipitation
Moderate Snowfall
Wind Direction
South
Weather Comments
Snow all day, but intensity varied, strong at time, light at others. Winds began dying down around 1 pm.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
6"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments

6” at 8500’ with 0.4” of water at 11 am. Another 2” during the day (didn’t measure water). Snow stayed cold most aspects, but brief periods of filtered sunshine got to the lower mid elevation south.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Red Flags Comments
Wind loading was the main red flag I was keeping an eye on since the half an inch of water didn’t seem like enough to activate deeper week layers in the terrain I was heading to (it was in other terrain, see below).
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Problem #1 Comments

Stomped on some obvious drifts and wind loaded test slopes, but did not get results. However, I was never in super wind loaded terrain, no doubt you could have found a sensitive wind slab or two today.

Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Problem #2 Comments

Saw on natural off a steep wind loaded repeater (4 eagle bowl). Steep, thin, and rocky, right where you would expect. Digging in mid elevation northerly showed most faceted weak layers to be healing.

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