Observation: Horse Creek

Observation Date

2/24/2026

Observer Name

Garcia

Region

Moab » Horse Creek

Location Name or Route

Pinto, W Mellenthin, Chair 11

Weather

Sky

Few

Wind Direction

West

Wind Speed

Moderate

Weather Comments

Winds from the west were light in the morning and picked up to moderate by the afternoon. Another very warm day, 47°F at 10,000 feet!

Snow Characteristics

Snow Surface Conditions

Powder

Dense Loose

Melt-Freeze Crust

Snow Characteristics Comments

Solars in Pinto Glades were completely crusted over and not worth skiing. I found dense, sun-affected snow on west aspects. Northerlies hold powder near treeline, but it quickly turned to mashed potatoes down low due to very warm temperatures.

Red Flags

Collapsing

Rapid Warming

Poor Snowpack Structure

Red Flags Comments

I experienced two audible collapses on west-facing slopes at 11,130 feet and 11,200 feet. I had one collapse on a northwest aspect at 11,000 feet.

Avalanche Problem #1

Problem

Persistent Weak Layer

Trend

Same

Problem #1 Comments

I traveled mainly on west-facing slopes near treeline and below. Near treeline, the 2/11 weak layer is still reacting to the weight of a skier with two collapses. The snow beneath my skis just felt unstable, and I did not want to be on steep slopes today. The 2/11 layer had sudden collapse results and propagation with extended column tests. I'll be avoiding steep west-facing slopes for a while. These slopes are not loaded up with hard slabs like the northerlies, but the potential for human-triggered soft slabs failing on the 2/11 layer remains likely.

ECTP 19 on the 2/11 weak layer

Sugar

Comments

I noticed this small debris pile at the bottom of Julie's Backside. Looks to me like a natural soft slab that ran during the storm.

Today's Observed Danger Rating

Considerable

Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating

Considerable

Coordinates

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