Observation: Moab

Observation Date
2/10/2020
Observer Name
Chris Benson
Region
Moab
Location Name or Route
La Sal Mountains
Weather
Sky
Scattered
Wind Direction
Northwest
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Some scattered clouds around 12,000'. WNW winds around 20 mph.
Comments
Got around the range to have a look around. Did not get into Beaver Basin, but throughout the rest of the entire range, no evidence of past avalanches were visible. Hard to see some NE aspects due to the light, but overall, the snowpack near and above treeline looks heavily wind affected, and has strong variability in depth. Isolated wind slabs visible on this NW aspect off of Haystack Mountain. I suspect these isolated wind slabs may have facets underneath in these high, cold, and shallow start zones. Not much snow to transport at this point.
More of the same. Tukno and Tuk, with cross loaded windslabs on NW aspects. These have existed since at least mid Jan, but the wind event and storm snow on 02/03 probably added a bit more stress to them.
Mt. Peale and Dark Canyon. No slide activity noted. Much of the alpine simply appears thin or barren.
Dry Fork of Mill Creek. Much of the wind loading appears on northerly aspects, but the bare expanses of Mann's Peak also tell of heavy, sustained NW winds.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate