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Observation: Murdock Basin

Observation Date
12/5/2021
Observer Name
Ryan Shea
Region
Uintas » Murdock Basin
Location Name or Route
Murdock Mountain
Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Poor Snowpack Structure
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
observed 3ft+ on Northern facing chutes and 4' at top of chute we skied. Huge variability in snow pack seeing a few thin crusts but some areas had spotty 5-6" wind slab ~5" above the ground. Nothing consistent and no propagation on CT and ECT
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #2 Comments
overall it was a facet and crust party. Generally skied as all facets with a very breakable thin to 1" crust on top.
Pit showed many layers of faceted snow and crusts, none of which were reactive in tests. one lower layer showed some evidence of wind slab, but was isolated, much of the boot up was 3' of facets to the ground.
The main point was high variability that will be a PWL all winter.
Note the deeper snow seemed to be isolated to the chutes
Snow Profile
Aspect
North
Elevation
10,600'
Comments
65cm of snow in northern facing chutes under murdock mountain. only 20cm on the flats. Heavy wind loading was the driver of deeper snow in the chutes.
skin and boot up showed mostly faceted snow from the ground up with some layers of harder snow, all of which could be penetrated to the ground during booting and made skinning a bit more difficult.
Did CT and ECT with no results even though there was obvious crusts and a firmer 5-6" layer of snow ~5" above the ground.
There is a thin layer of very breakable decomposing crust up to 1" on the surface that could support incoming snow. It did not affect skiing as you could easily turn while breaking through the crust.
Danger level will increase with new snow this week.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Low
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
Coordinates