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Observation: Duke Ridge

Observation Date
1/10/2017
Observer Name
Michael Janulaitis
Region
Uintas » Upper Weber Canyon » South Fork Weber River » Duke Ridge
Location Name or Route
Duke Ridge
Weather
Sky
Obscured
Precipitation
Moderate Snowfall
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
18"
New Snow Density
High
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Red Flags
Red Flags
Heavy Snowfall
Wind Loading
Cracking
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Snow Profile
Aspect
Southwest
Elevation
10,100'
Slope Angle
20°
Comments

I got out early this morning and did a little kicking and digging. There is quite a bit of new heavy snow up high. With all the wind there were large drifts and shallow pockets making riding unpredictable. I was unsuccessful at setting any slides off, however; I was not in terrain that offered safe ski cuts. I used my shovel to dig out a some cornices. I chose terrain that slid mid-slope at a roll over last Saturday. A couple of the blocks maintained form and ran down the whole mountain. There was only minor sluffing and no slab fractures. As seen in the pics, the cornices are large and the trees rimed. I was not able to get safely on a north slope so I dug on the south side. HS 165 with a solid snowpack. My stability test yielded moderate results with an ECTN 12 RP Q3 failure at the new snow old snow interface.

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