Observation Date
1/5/2021
Observer Name
Weston D
Region
Uintas
Location Name or Route
upper weber
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
10"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments
Seemed like a serious over producer; a welcomed change!
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Heavy Snowfall
Wind Loading
Cracking
Collapsing
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Wow, ticked all but one box...
Thundering, tree shacking collapses all day. Shooting cracks, cracking dinner plates. Storm over produced and there was an easy 10" of fresh. Wind was depositing deep below the ridge lines. Any where with out a tree every 10ft had textured snow, wind deposition etc.
Also came upon what we think was a natural avalanche. Unsure, it could have been us, the collapses were traveling pretty far. But we didn't hear or notice any movement, just the crown. See below pic.
Meanwhile trail breaking was pretty brutal. The unsupported facet farm underneath led to a bottomless feel, not to mention we spent about as much time walking over dead fall as we did on snow...
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Problem #1 Comments
Our poor snowpack structure found it's tipping point with 10" of new snow. PWL was overburdened and is very reactive/ touchy.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Problem #2 Comments
Add some wind to the fresh snow and it started to connect the slab
Comments
Cracking and collapsing were the norm today. So much feedback, it was truly amazing. This was one of the larger cracks/collapses. There as just a little wind in this pocket that had started to firm up the slab.
This was the natural we stumbled upon. It was pretty fresh, but the way things were going today it could have been remotely triggered by us. E-NE 9400 ft.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
High
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable
Coordinates
