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Observation: Moab

Observation Date
12/3/2022
Observer Name
Garcia/Ament
Region
Moab
Location Name or Route
Laurel Highway, Goldminer's, Talking Mt Cirque
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Wind Direction
South
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Temps were warmer today. Right around freezing at 10,000 feet. Moderate South winds blew all day long. Gray skies, but good visibility.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Dense Loose
Wind Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
The wind has certainly had it's way with the snow surface. You will find a variety of wind crusts of varying densities on most aspects. The warmer temperatures have really affected the surface snow in sheltered areas. In sheltered locations the snow is dense, creamy, and starting to exhibit some slab like properties. At low and mid elevations the surface snow is still soft, but it has settled and certainly has gained some cohesion. This snow is well bonded to the underlying snow and it was hard to pull out slabs with hand shears at mid and low elevations. Above 11,000 ft slabs were more cohesive and popped out easily with hand shear tests.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Wind Loading
Cracking
Collapsing
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
We observed a recent avalanche in Talking Mt Cirque that is probably one or two days old. See the avalanche ob for full details Throughout the week we have seen the wind shift from the N and NW around to the SE. Winds have been in the moderate to strong range all week and have resulted in some unusual loading patterns. Slopes that were loaded earlier in the week are now scoured. I was impressed by the amount of scouring I observed today. Enough wind drifted snow has piled up on NW facing slopes in Talking Mt Cirque to cause natural avalanching. Cracking was limited to directly under our skis on wind drifted snow, no shooting cracks. I had two audible whumphs while skiing across a steep wind drifted test slope (West aspect) just up canyon of the run out of the Funnel. Poor snowpack structure is widespread. I can confirm buried facets on W-N-E facing slopes. I did not dig down on S. We skied hard packed shallow snow on South facing Gold Miners. Due South might be the only aspect without buried facets right now.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Problem #1 Comments
We have been in an unusual pattern of scouring and drifting this week. I was surprised by how much snow has been scoured and removed on a wide variety of aspects. Even some N facing slopes that were loaded earlier this week are completely scoured. Slopes that face due West are no longer loaded and not a concern. So much snow has been removed from the alpine, the danger of triggering an avalanche in wind drifted snow is now isolated. Bottom line if you are in the alpine and it is filled in enough to ski, it is most likely drifted and dangerous. Wind drifted snow is sitting on top of a very weak snowpack structure.
Snow Profile
Aspect
Northwest
Elevation
11,400'
Slope Angle
34°
Comments
This profile was dug adjacent to the crown of a natural avalanche in Talking Mt Cirque. See the avalanche ob for full details.
Above 11,000 feet it was easy to pull slabs out of hasty pits like the one shown in the photo.
The alpine is heavily wind scoured.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
Coordinates