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Observation: Upper Weber Canyon

Observation Date
3/16/2025
Observer Name
Brackelsberg
Region
Uintas » Upper Weber Canyon
Location Name or Route
Upper Weber Canyon
Weather
Sky
Scattered
Wind Direction
West
Wind Speed
Strong
Weather Comments
Strong west winds were transporting significant amounts of snow. The sun came and went most of the day. Not enough to affect the snow up high, but definitely made the snow wet down low.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Wind Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
It was a mixed bag of snow today. As the sun came out, the snow below ~8,500' got wet. Up high, the snow stayed cold and dry.
The wind really did a number on the snow. The strong west winds were creating dense wind affected snow on high east facing aspects (above around 9,500'). The wind was circling through the bowl and blowing back to the east creating a very stiff wind slab in exposed terrain in the bowl (see photos 1 and 2). The wind had was also getting into the high elevation trees and creating dense snow. The best snow was found in trees protected from the multi-direction winds.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Poor Snowpack Structure
Snow Profile
Aspect
Northeast
Elevation
9,900'
Slope Angle
23°
Comments
Our snowpit did not produce extended column test (ECT) or column test (CT) results. It was easy to pry out the entire slab of snow (~120cm deep) breaking on weak facets from the ground up to 35cm (see photo 3). The facet layer in most places seems to be buried deep enough to not be able to easily be triggered.
The 3 melt-freeze crusts were easily visible in the snow pit (see photo 4).
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
Coordinates