Observation Date
4/9/2025
Observer Name
Ryan Huels
Region
Moab » Gold Basin » Middle Cirque
Location Name or Route
Middle Cirque
Weather
Sky
Clear
Wind Direction
West
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Sunny skies and light/moderate westerly winds which were helping keep snow in upper elevations cold. It was 38 degrees in the winter lot at 0730 and up into the 50s at the winter lot by 1300. Beautiful spring day in the mountains. Temps remained relatively cool with the wind up until about 1130/1200 when things notably started to heat up. One more night of freezing temps tonight before a few days of high pressure and warm temps through the weekend. Looks like overnight below freezing temps may return in a few days after our warm up. Winds were much lighter to absent at times down in the mountain basins compared to ridge lines.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Dense Loose
Melt-Freeze Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
Following descending into Talking Moutnain Cirque, I rode to the base of Middle Snow Cirque and began to climb towards Tuk around 1100. The snow below the cirque near tree line at this time was soft and damp but not saturated or showing any red flags. Above treeline in the cirque and on the ascent the snow was cold, medium density powder. Old skin tracks were filled in by wind transport. I did not make it to the summit as I previously set descent time of 1200 at the latest, but Im sure snow was equally as good in the upper portions. I did not notice any red flags at 1200 so I do believe it could have been extended to 1300/1400, but use your best judgment. The track out to Gold Basin was damp but not yet gloping to skins or allowing for deep penetration into the snowpack.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Rapid Warming
Red Flags Comments
Previous skin tracks were filled in from wind transport as there is still cold soft snow at upper elevations. Windrifts and cornices present along the Tuk ridge line. Evidence of loose/wet slides and rollerballs from previous days was all around on aspects with solar gain, greater on westerlies.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wet Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
Wet snow from daytime warming. Watch out for sings of rapid warming which will be greater over the next few days as temps rise.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Problem #2 Comments
While many people have been getting out and on all kinds of aspects and various elevations, the PWL could still be lurking below in the right spots as we had a very poor snowpack structure all year. The warmup a few weeks ago followed by the cooling trend + snow helped lock things in, but that doesn't mean it does not exist
Comments
Looking down into Middle Cirque. South facing aspects from the Laurel Highway is getting very thin and lots of previous loose/wet activity on W facing terrain around the cirque. Excellent turning conditions along with some previous loose/wet activity on more E facing terrain.
A look at Tuk from the Laurel Highway as well as Tuk No/Gravel Pit Lanes during the exit into Gold Basin
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Low
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Low
Coordinates
