Observation Date
12/29/2024
Observer Name
Kennard
Region
Moab » Laurel Highway
Location Name or Route
Laurel Highway
Weather
Sky
Scattered
Wind Direction
South
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
It wasn’t your typical end of December weather up there today with the car thermometer reading 37 degrees at 9:45 this morning. The wind was pretty constant at 10-20 miles per hour all morning and the gusts were ramping up as I was on my way out.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
The 7 inches of snow we received over the past week was a nice refresh to our meager snow pack. The snow from the past week had settled out to 10-12" above 10'600' but unfortunately not much of that snow stuck around above tree line. The winds have done a pretty good job at depositing most of the new snow on the leeward side of the ridges and the new wind slabs were very obvious from the ridge. things were getting a little damp down low on southerly faces.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Wind Loading
Collapsing
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
As I mentioned above the wind slabs were very obvious from the ridge. The only new avalanche I noticed today ran down the gut of gravel pit lanes. It looked like a fairly small slide for that path, it didn’t appear to have ripped out the whole bowl, just one of the lanes and the gut above tele heaven. I experienced two bouts of localized collapsing right at tree line as I cut up and across coyote shoot. I can’t say I was surprised with the collapsing, but I was a little surprised at the lack of collapsing overall. Guess we didn’t get enough snow to tip the scales yet. The standard poor La Sal snow pack structure was present. The lower level of the snow pack is all facets but there is still a stiff layer from the November storms that hasn’t rotted out yet. On top of the stiff layer is the new snow that felt like it was on the lighter of side of medium density.
Comments
Overall the skiing was pretty good given a slim 30" at the Gold basin study plot. Things are still pretty thin in the north woods, the best skiing was above 10,500'. Any thing below that still had abundant hazards and required your full attention to stay above the downed trees.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
