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Observation: Mt. Peale

Observation Date
3/25/2025
Observer Name
Garcia
Region
Moab » Mt. Peale
Location Name or Route
Mt. Peale SE Face
Weather
Sky
Clear
Weather Comments
Very warm day with strong March sunshine. High temps were 50° F at Gold Basin and 40° F on PLP (11,700').
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Melt-Freeze Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
Frozen surfaces in the morning allowed for fast and easy travel. I enjoyed excellent spring skiing conditions on the decent. Not quite corn, we need a few more melt freeze cycles for true corn on this slope, but I found very fun soft and supportable turns. The surface got sloppy and wet around 10,300'. We'll see what temperatures do overnight, but there might be a short window on Wednesday for similar conditions in the alpine. Most likely you will have to start and end a bit earlier than today. I made my descent just before noon today.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Rapid Warming
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wet Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
Timing is everything right now. It is going to get more difficult to find safe skiing on solars as the week progresses with record high temperatures in the forecast. If you start and end early on Wednesday you should be ok. I dug a quick pit on a SE aspect at 10,600'. There was about three inches of soft snow on a firm crust that made for supportable travel. This crust was thin (maybe 2 inches) and I imagine it will break down with the continued warm temps. There was no melt water beneath this crust. The snow just below it was moist with no water visible, but easy to make a snowball. I found cold, dry snow towards the bottom of the pack.
I observed some small wet-loose avalanches in Upper Dark Canyon
Comments
Solar aspects are melting quickly.
Tuk
South Mountain with the Abajos in the distance. Very little snow remains in the Abajos.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
None
Coordinates