Snowpack

Observation: Payson Canyon

cpProvo
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Quick report

Aspect
Northeast
Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure
Elevation
2530 m
Slope Angle
25°
Red Flags Comment
<p>As it is, there's not much of a sliding surface. When more weight gets added I would expect collapsing and loose snow avalanches on the steeper slopes, likely to go to the ground on paths with any length.</p>

snowmobiles have ridden/tested many of the cutbanks on all aspects. They are still sinking to the ground or just above it. Total snow depth=34"

Snowpack

Instability Comment
<p>With more snow forecast I would expect to see some of the steeper slopes fail. </p>

Thursdays storm began as rain, which left a 1cm ice layer on top of the old snow, As temps cooled, rain turned to 3" of 4F followed by the top 6" of light snow. This would by great if not for the poor structure of the snow underneath. The weight of the new snow was not enough to change anything to the current snowpack. The 25" of old snow is a mixture of facets ranging in size and moisture content. The ground was damp as were the bottom 4" of large grained facets. The 1cm ice layer is fragile and easy to fail. CT failed on isolation. Ski /boot penetration to the ground. (Don't step out of your skis, it's hard to climb back up on them.) The winds hadn't increased while I was there so there were no new wind slabs to be seen. Visibility was good up to 10,000'.