Observation: Weber Canyon

Observation Date
12/16/2022
Observer Name
jg
Region
Uintas » Weber Canyon
Location Name or Route
Upper Weber Canyon
Weather
Sky
Few
Wind Direction
North
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Cold today with temps below just zero to low teens. Winds were light and not moving snow.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments
Excellent riding and skiing conditions.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Collapsing
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
We only experienced a couple of collapses in an isolated location with a thinner snowpack around some buried rocks otherwise the snowpack was quiet. Saw some shallow naturals on a steep east facing slope.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Snow Profile
Aspect
Northwest
Elevation
10,000'
Slope Angle
25°
Comments
For the most part we traveled on the north half of the compass, mostly out of the wind zone and kept slope angles to sub 30° . The snowpack was generally quiet while we were skinning and skiing. Pit test results were CT13 - sudden collapse with a Q1 shear quality- and ECTP22 - also sudden collapse but with a Q2 quality shear. Failures were on the November dry spell facets which were about 2 feet down where I dug my pit and failed with moderate to hard effort. This type of snowpack setup warrants getting the shovel out and doing some digging. My two cents is that with excellent riding and skiing conditions and blue skies it's an easy setup to get lured into terrain that that you don't want to be in. Overall, in the terrain we traveled, I'd say we encountered a moderate hazard but if you are traveling in the wind zone and/or on steep slopes where the November PWL exists the hazard is considerable. My observed danger rating reflects staying out of the wind zone and keeping slope angles down.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate