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Observation: Gold Basin

Observation Date
12/16/2023
Observer Name
Chris Benson
Region
Moab » Gold Basin
Location Name or Route
Red Snow Cirque
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Wind Loading
Poor Snowpack Structure
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
On my tour up into Red Snow Cirque today, much of the snowpack consisted of facets, depth hoar, wind slab and notable surface hoar in the valley bottom.
The height of snow at 10K varied from 0 on south aspects to around 50cm in shady, wind-protected areas.
I did not experience any cracking or collapsing, but in areas exposed to the wind, there was a 1F hard slab sitting on weak persistent grains.
One of my pits (NE aspect) produced an ECTP 20 on the depth hoar and in another pit I got CTH SC on buried near surface facets (Dec. 13 interface?) about 20cm down. In other pits, I got CTN and ECTX as there was basically no slab-just weak faceted snow.
Much of the snowpack is weak snow with only the most recent storm snow not faceted (yet).
The surface hoar distribution and size was notable and will be something to keep an eye on.
Snow Profile
Aspect
Northeast
Elevation
10,500'
Comments
Picture of a pit in Red Snow Cirque. It had a stiff slab resting over the DH.
Surface hoar was up to 2.5 cm and mostly in valley bottoms.
Video
Today's Observed Danger Rating
None
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
None
Coordinates