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Observation: Manns Peak

Observation Date
12/7/2024
Observer Name
Garcia
Region
Moab » Manns Peak
Location Name or Route
West Fork Burro Pass to Mann's Peak
Weather
Sky
Few
Wind Direction
Northwest
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Another warm one. Winds were calm in the valleys, with light NW winds on the ridge lines.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Dense Loose
Faceted Loose
Wind Crust
Melt-Freeze Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
Solars have been going through a repeated melt-freeze cycle for some time and offer a type of pseudo-corn that is pretty fun. I found decent turns in the cold square pow with the occasional wind crust on East facing slopes.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
I went looking for instability on SE and West aspects today. SE facing slopes below the treeline have a very shallow snowpack. This pit at 10,910 feet had only 40cm of snow.
When you gain some elevation the snow gets a little deeper, and the snowpack has more structure to it. This pit at 11,330 yielded ECTX
I also checked out a West face at 11,260. The snowpack here is made up almost entirely of faceted grains. The overall snowpack in this location is weakening due to the prolonged dry spell. Test results here were also ECTX.
Both SE and W aspects above the treeline have very little snow and negligible avalanche hazard. The photo below is the West face of Mann's Peak. You may encounter isolated areas on SE slopes above treeline that have a deeper snowpack than what I found today. I would continue to exercise caution in any of those outlier areas.
Snow Profile
Elevation
11,200'
Comments
We may be in the midst of a long dry spell, but the weather is great and travel is relatively easy right now.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
Coordinates