SAVE THE DATES!
Friday, January 30 - Saturday, January 31 - Moab Backcountry 101 Class - Our annual local backcountry avalanche class. Click here for information and registration. Moab and Monticello locals can use the discount code MOAB-LOCAL for a 10% discount.
I took a trip up to Abajo Peak to de-rime the wind station on Saturday, December 27 (read my complete
observation here). After two weeks of record warm temperatures at 20°F+ degrees above normal, S-SW aspects are mostly melted out down to bare ground. Spotty snow cover remains on more sheltered SE and W aspects. NW-N-E facing slopes have anywhere from 6" at 9000' and 20-24" at 11,000'. Rain to above 11,000 feet on Christmas Day crusted over all surfaces and a thick coat of rime covers the trees. The entire snowpack below the rain crust consists of loose, sugary,
faceted grains. This unstable base is currently lacking a
slab and human triggered avalanches are unlikely.
