UDOT PLANNED AVALANCHE CLOSURES!!
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Observation: Talking Mountain

Observation Date
3/13/2013
Observer Name
Max Forgensi
Region
Moab
Location Name or Route
Pre-Laurel Ridge to Talking Mountain
Weather
Sky
Clear
Weather Comments
Beautiful sunny day. Solo mountaineers and backcountry snowboarders ruled the day.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Faceted Loose
Wind Crust
Melt-Freeze Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments

The whole range of snow conditions were observed along the tour into the high country. Sastrugi along ridgelines, breakable crusts, solid melt-freeze crusts, powder, corn, flypaper.

The most notable snow characteristic observation was that the southerly and southeasterly aspects were ready for corn skiing above treeline. I would have loved to farm the corn more than I did. I would expect the southeast aspects to be ready first, say by noon and my decent down southerly corn above treeline was purrfect at 1400.

Westerlies above treeline were still not in shape, at least inside Gold Basin. I would think that westerlies on Tuk and Tuk No will be ready approximately the same time due to warm upslope winds in the morning.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Red Flags Comments
One large avalanche was reported on a west aspect on Mt. Tomasaki that may have hit the Burro Pass summer trail.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wet Snow
Problem #1 Comments

I feel that the warm temperatures will be making for wet loose snow avalanches our primary concern. There was some activity noted on the southeast aspect of Tuk No and on south aspects in Talking Mountain Cirque.

Comments

1st picture is of Talking Mountain Cirque (left) and Middle Mountain Cirque. Skin tracks are in and someone went out and hit what looks like the lower 2/3rds of the Meat Cleavers (on the other side of the right ridge) in Middle Mountain Cirque.

Second photo is looking into Gold Basin from the top of Talking Mountain. The southeast face of Tuk No goes through. It appears the shoulder of Tuk has limited obstacles but the NE face of Tuk has a definitive rock band that you would have to dance through.

Third photo is of South Mountain in all its glory. Lines are filled in on the North Face and also from South Mountain Colour which is accessed from Pack Creek. Long slog for Utah but totally worth it.

Final photo is of the coverage of all the southerly aspects looking from Talking Mountain North towards Mt. Mellenthin. These are where the corn factories are located. I would recommend anyone looking to farm corn to head up farther towards Laurel Peak for a much longer corn decent into Upper Talking Mountain Cirque. I also looked into El Pinche. The top looks pretty rough but the snow surface appears to even out after the first 1/4 of the couloir.