Observation Date
3/4/2013
Observer Name
Nate Stireman
Region
Moab
Location Name or Route
Mt. Haystack and surrounding area
Weather
Sky
Obscured
Wind Direction
Northwest
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Moderate to strong winds coming from the north west and west Sunday and Monday. Sunday night delivered somewhere in the 5" to 10" range, depending on location and elevation. medium densities (seemed around 8-9% SWE). Low visibility above tree line Monday. Good riding conditions on the North side of the compass, descent on low angles at other aspects.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
7"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Red Flags
Red Flags
Collapsing
Red Flags Comments
At between 10,000' and 10,500' we found some localized collapsing. Pits revealed that about 12 inches from the surface under a dust layer at this elevation, failures occured (CTE 2 Q1). -seemed very localized though. Yet 500' higher, much more stubborn results. Found these results below Haystack at 10,300' and on 'the Burn-off' at 10'200'. Nothing propagated and slid.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
12" deep, 10'000' to 10,500' NE, N, NW. Localized, not widespread.
Snow Profile
Aspect
North
Elevation
10,200'
Slope Angle
31°
Comments
Watch out for this 'mid elevation' instability. Could be dangerous if above cliffs or terrain traps. Most of the stuff we observed in the past two days of touring near geyser pass (Haystack + pre laurel) above 10,500' was pretty stable (ECTP 24), (ECTN 30), etc...
