Ad
The National Forest Service Logo
icon-add Observation
Forecasts
Logan Ogden Salt Lake Provo Uintas Skyline Moab Abajos Weather Archives How to read the forecast
Observations & Avalanches
Submit Observation Observations Explorer All Observations Avalanches Fatalities Weather Place Names Map Archives
Education
Avalanche Class List UAC Class List Online Classes Resources and Tutorials Avalanche Awareness Develop Skills
Events
Store
About
Contact Who we are Core Values Staff Board of Directors Past Forecasters Sponsors Annual Reports Sign In
Blog
icon-add Observation
Donate / Join

Observation: Moffit Basin

Observation Date
12/22/2017
Observer Name
Craig Gordon/Ted Scroggin
Region
Uintas » Bear River Ranger District » Bear River West Fork » Moffit Basin
Location Name or Route
Upper Moffit Basin
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Wind Direction
Northeast
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Weather not effecting the snow stability
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Dense Loose
Faceted Loose
Wind Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments

Mixed bag of snow surface conditions.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Snow structure is a complex mixture of crusts and facets
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Problem #1 Comments

All the players are in place, but we're missing the key ingredient... a slab

While most of our terrain is boney and thin, there's a few slopes throughout the range that are starting to fill in. This is the kind of terrain to avoid once winter kicks in and these slopes lose their terrain features, anchors get buried, and the slope becomes more connected..

Video

Low elevation south facing terrain is in dire need of a thick coat of white paint.

Upper elevation south facing slopes are gonna be the ticket as avalanche danger increases. Remember- terrain like in the image above has no weak, sugary, faceted snow

Today's Observed Danger Rating
Low
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate