Observation: Middle Cirque

Observation Date

12/27/2013

Observer Name

Trenbeath

Region

Moab » Gold Basin » Middle Cirque

Location Name or Route

Gold Basin into Lone Pine

Weather

Sky

Clear

Wind Direction

Northeast

Wind Speed

Light

Weather Comments

Light winds during the day from the NE, higher the night before, in the 20's with gusts to 30. High temps during the day in the high 20's.

Snow Characteristics

Snow Surface Conditions

Dense Loose

Faceted Loose

Wind Crust

Melt-Freeze Crust

Snow Characteristics Comments

Full gamete of snow surface conditions. Wind etching and crust development on exposed northerly aspects, and sun crusts on southerlies. Faceted loose snow and re-crystallized powder on sheltered, shady slopes.

Red Flags

Poor Snowpack Structure

Red Flags Comments

Snowpack structure on northerly aspects ranges from stratified, with loose snow and wind crusts near the surface, and layers of buried surface hoar, mid pack facets and crusts, and developing depth hoar at the ground, to areas where the entire pack has been taken over by the faceting process. All in all, extremely weak.

Avalanche Problem #1

Problem

New Snow

Trend

Same

Problem #1 Comments

Persistent slabs remain on NW-NE aspects at upper-mid to upper elevations.

Today's Observed Danger Rating

Moderate

Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating

Moderate

Observation: Middle Cirque

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