Snowpack

Observation: Payson Canyon

Cody HughesProvo
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Quick report

Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comment
<p>Basal Facets were found at the bottom of the snowpack with 4 finger slab on top. Shallow pack of only 60cm</p>

The terrain we were in today was very spooky avalanche terrain. Consequences were thick trees and lots of terrain traps. Taking a ride in a slab avalanche in this drainage would be no good and likely unsurvivable. I will not be back to this terrain when we get a heavy load of snow on top. It's important to mention as well that this is lower elevation terrain...

Snowpack

Instability Comment
<p>October facets were found at all locations I dug on the north and northeast aspects from 8200-7700 ft. There was 56 cm of snow sitting on top of the 4 cm of facets. In our snowpits we were finding fist hardness and 4 finger hardness sitting on top of the basal facets from our October storm. We could not find a 1 finger slab anywhere we traveled today. </p>

Only made it up to 8300 ft outside of Payson Canyon. South had a very stout melt-freeze crust and became damp later in the day. North still holding soft powder.