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Observation: Moffit Peak

Observation Date
3/10/2024
Observer Name
Kelly/Richards/Balls
Region
Uintas » Moffit Peak
Location Name or Route
Moffit Peak
Weather
Sky
Clear
Wind Direction
South
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Skies started clear with light clouds building through the day. Winds were calm in the AM and picked up blowing from a southerly direction and starting to transport snow onto the northerly facing slopes at the highest elevations later in the afternoon.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Melt-Freeze Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
Lower angle easterly and northerly facing slopes were soft powder conditions. It was not as warm today as it has been and the snow that had been sun crusted stayed that way throughout the day. Lots of good riding to be had on shady slopes. Steeper slopes facing the sun (south and west) had a slight melt-freeze crust on the surface and higher elevation northerly facing terrain had signs of wind-drifted snow underneath large cornices.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
We observed one avalanche on a northeast facing slope near Moffit Peak (10,500') that looked to be a cornice triggered avalanche from earlier this weekend. (photo 1 below). We also observed a shallow wind-drifted snow avalanche on the south side of Double Hill on an east facing slope at 10,200 (photo 2 below).
Moffit Ridgeline
Double Hill
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #2 Comments
We saw a number of dry loose avalanches on steep aspects (above photo of Moffit) on north, east, and west facing slopes (west facing Moffit below) above 10,400'.
Snow Profile
Aspect
North
Elevation
10,000'
Slope Angle
26°
Comments
We dug a snowpit on a north (8°) facing slope in a protected area at 10,030' in on the west side of Moffit Peak. The snow in this location was 7.7' (236cm) deep. We dug down 5' (150 cm) and found a right side up snowpack. The extended column tests gave us results with no propagation ECTN17 @8" from the surface (215cm from the ground) and ECTN30@ 1' from the surface (180cm from the ground).
After the test we pried on the column and were able to get a fracture 3' below the surface. Where we dug the stability was good. Thinner, rockier, steeper slopes that may have previously avalanched are the places I would pause to assess before committing to steeper terrain. Luckily there is plenty of great riding to be had on slopes away from these steep thinner locations.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Low
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
None
Coordinates