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Observation: Moab

Observation Date
12/14/2025
Observer Name
Chris Benson
Region
Moab
Location Name or Route
Peale/Talking Mtn
Weather
Sky
Clear
Wind Direction
South
Wind Speed
Calm
Weather Comments
La Sal Pass road was pretty dry and easy to drive up to the Burl Friends TH.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Wind Crust
Melt-Freeze Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments

Low tide, but what little snow is left on solar aspects is pretty dense and has a solid melt freeze crust that offers good travel and decent skiing. The boot packing was excellent with a firm sun/wind crust and at times some dense styrofoam-like snow.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Stuck to southerly slopes today and enjoyed some spring-like skiing. Much of the alpine is without snow but observed some terrain that probably harbors a stiff windslab on top of Facets on a NE/E aspect.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Problem #1 Comments

Seems like much of the snowpack is now faceted, the exception being wind slabs in the alpine and slopes exposed to warm temps and sunshine. Nearly all slopes that see sun have a supportive crust and in some places this crust is 1-2" thick. Any time I broke through a wind or sun crust, there seemed to be faceted snow. Didn't venture into any polar aspects today, but NTL and BTL in the trees there seemed to be a variety of shaded areas contained faceted snow.

Comments

Perhaps the one place where you could find an avalanche with windblown snow resting on weak faceted snow (NE aspect NTL).

Fun skiing in this south facing gully. Very stout and supportive crust that was nice and soft around 1 pm. Would probably be a good idea to have ski crampons/whip it if traveling much in the alpine as most southerly slopes feel like April!

Multiple generations of wind events- from SW (earlier) to NW (more recent). Only a few slope have enough snow and poor structure to produce an avalanche.

NW face of Mt. Peale-goats for scale.

Gold Basin-Sun has taken its toll on the south aspects.

Today's Observed Danger Rating
None
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
None
Coordinates