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Observation: La Sal Mountains

Observation Date
3/30/2016
Observer Name
Ryan Schantzenbach
Region
Moab » La Sal Mountains
Location Name or Route
Funnel to Exxxons
Weather
Sky
Broken
Wind Direction
Northwest
Wind Speed
Calm
Weather Comments
Wind gusts overnight subsided, Very calm in the morning and cold single to teens, Patches of sun but mostly cloudy, once the sun did break out, it was affecting the surface quickly, a few spits of snow showers and maybe some grauple by noon, then mostly cloudy and winds picked up with little micro systems blowing in
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
15"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Dense Loose
Wind Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
Mixed Bag as always, new snow on breakable crust on a south facing ridge, pockets of deep soft slabs, stubborn cornices or slabs on North sides of ridges. Protected areas had deep soft powder, wind affected
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Heavy Snowfall
Wind Loading
Red Flags Comments
Surprised not too get any cracking or collapsing, sun wasn't out for extended periods of time, late march sun could be felt once it peeked out. seemed like terrain traps and gullies collected but no major hard slabs on my tour, mostly soft.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
Numerous storm slabs collected below ridges and halfway down more open terrain and below chutes or gullies, and just below treeline. most running on their own or sluffing
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #2 Comments
Some slabs are still waiting for just a tip of the scale. Pockets are lurking, of the ones seen they didn't run far and looked fairly soft
Comments
Many pockets like this at and below treeline, mostly on N aspects
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate