UDOT PLANNED AVALANCHE CLOSURES!!

Observation: Monster

Observation Date
12/17/2017
Observer Name
Brett Kobernik
Region
Skyline » Ephraim Canyon » Monster
Location Name or Route
Monster
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
1"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Faceted Loose
Wind Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments

Only about a trace of snow fell during the minor storm Saturday night.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
This will only become a concern when we start to see more snow stack up.
Snow Profile
Aspect
North
Elevation
10,200'
Comments

I prowled around Ephraim Canyon this weekend looking at snow conditions. North facing slopes are holding about a foot of snow. Some of these slopes are harboring very weak sugary "faceted" snow. In particular, The Monster. This is a steep north facing slope that is very popular with sledders early in the season because it is smooth and void of rocks, stumps and downed trees. Usually it gets hit so hard and so early in the season that the compaction from all of the sleds stabilizes the slope.

Because of this winter's slow start, no one has been able to ride The Monster yet. This means that the current weak snow will be buried before anyone gets there this season. This will be a bit out of the ordinary and could potentially produce avalanches on a slope that many people consider stable and on a slope where they usually don't see avalanches.

Today's Observed Danger Rating
None
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
None
Coordinates