Observation Date
12/9/2018
Observer Name
Cody Hughes
Region
Provo » Payson Canyon
Location Name or Route
Payson Canyon
Weather
Sky
Clear
Wind Direction
Northwest
Wind Speed
Calm
Weather Comments
Calm bluebird day above the smog.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Melt-Freeze Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
Only made it up to 8300 ft outside of Payson Canyon. South had a very stout melt-freeze crust and became damp later in the day. North still holding soft powder.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Basal Facets were found at the bottom of the snowpack with 4 finger slab on top. Shallow pack of only 60cm
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
October facets were found at all locations I dug on the north and northeast aspects from 8200-7700 ft. There was 56 cm of snow sitting on top of the 4 cm of facets. In our snowpits we were finding fist hardness and 4 finger hardness sitting on top of the basal facets from our October storm. We could not find a 1 finger slab anywhere we traveled today.
Comments
The terrain we were in today was very spooky avalanche terrain. Consequences were thick trees and lots of terrain traps. Taking a ride in a slab avalanche in this drainage would be no good and likely unsurvivable. I will not be back to this terrain when we get a heavy load of snow on top. It's important to mention as well that this is lower elevation terrain...
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
