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Observation: Weber Canyon

Observation Date
12/18/2024
Observer Name
Nassetta / Katz
Region
Uintas » Upper Weber Canyon » Weber Canyon
Location Name or Route
Weber Canyon Environs
Weather
Sky
Few
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Calm
Weather Comments
Things started out cool before the sun came up but quickly warmed into working hours at the trailhead. Thing cloud cover and calm winds left cold air pooled until sky cover dissipated and westerly winds grazed upper ridgelines, barely moving snow. The day wore on, and thin clouds moved in with an increasing breeze and a few moderate gusts.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Dense Loose
Faceted Loose
Wind Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
Snow was cold and travel was mostly good-to-go on packed roads and mellow off-piste meadows but still very thin underneath the surface. Trenching the track was a no-go, and felt best to keep it on all fours and not get 'er up on edge.
On the polars the pack was supportable in some places, but mostly rotten and unsupportable in areas where soft snow was protected, and resistant to the wind. On the sunnies it was a mixed bag of bare ground and crusts, that did not promote much travel or riding. Best quality turning continues to be on mellow slopes where you aren't trenching or feeling the bottom fall out.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Problem #1 Comments
In the photo below you are able to see the failure plane, or slab and weak layer combo we are most concerned about. November snow that sat on the surface and went rotten is extra weak and now preserved underneath our most recent storm snow that lies 6-12" (15-30cm) beneath the surface on slopes with a northerly touch at mid and upper elevations. This set-up seems most reactive in wind-exposed and wind-resistant terrain compared to more sheltered and protected areas.
Although we have a ton of weak snow near the ground and throughout the pack places where this structure exists are the same areas where we have seen our most recent avalanches fail. It is something I am keeping a tight fix on heading into the weekend and holiday with some weather coming in.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate