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Observation: Upper Weber Canyon

Observation Date
3/16/2018
Observer Name
Kikkert
Region
Uintas » Upper Weber Canyon
Location Name or Route
Upper Weber Canyon
Weather
Sky
Clear
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Clear in the AM with generally light winds. However, clouds rolled in early afternoon and winds bumped up to moderate.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
4"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments

4" overnight, which brought storm totals up to about 10". Snow on all aspects was light and dry early AM, but by midday sunny aspects, particularly at mid elevations, had gotten damp.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Most areas there were no red flags; the loading was not that significant, winds were light, and the snowpack generally quite stable. However, the persistent slab problem remains in specific terrain.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments

Avalanche activity observed was limited to sluffing of the new snow on steeper slopes. See photo below.

Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #2 Comments

Looked in some terrain that has been thin and weak all year, wondering if the recent warmth helped strengthen the pack. However, found that the facets (depth hoar) were still dry and weak (see photo below). Full propagation in test pits with moderate effort. Stepped onto one slope that seemed particularly weak, and had shooting cracks. Slope didn't avalanche only because it seemed to be just shy of having a slab. Add some windblown snow tomorrow and we may have a different story.

In short same problem we have been stuck with for a while; most slopes are stable, but areas like repeaters or just steep rocky northerly facing slopes can still produce an avalanche.

Snow Profile
Aspect
North
Elevation
10,200'
Slope Angle
36°
Comments

Pit shows the poor structure in terrain that has previously avalanched.

Photo shows sluffs that were common in steeper terrain.

Photo shows cracking that occurred when we stepped onto a slope that has thin weak snow.

Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
Coordinates