Observation Date
2/10/2014
Observer Name
Will Kelley
Region
Moab
Location Name or Route
North Woods/Coyote
Weather
Sky
Obscured
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
The winds have moved a lot of snow onto our already tender N and NE aspects. It's warming up, temps still in the mid to upper twenties at 11,000 feet, much warmer down low. Winds are keeping it cold to the skier.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
6"
New Snow Density
High
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Dense Loose
Snow Characteristics Comments
Up side down pack right now. 150cm at Coyote Chutes. 35cm of new and heavy wind transport sitting on top of 40cm of well consolidated snow which rests on top of loose facets, a small crust layer, and then facets to the ground. Was unable to perform shovel load tests due to the column collapsing while cutting the back of it out to isolate it from the rest of the snow pack. As my partner and I turned to leave we instigated a collapse that sounded more like rolling thunder. Luckily this area is not steep enough for an avalanche. Truly scary.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Heavy Snowfall
Wind Loading
Cracking
Collapsing
Rapid Warming
Poor Snowpack Structure
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
While not a lot at the study plot, the wind has transported large amounts of wet, heavy snow on top of an already stressed snowpack.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #2 Comments
35 cm of wind transport snow on top of 40cm of dense compacted snow....this is the slab and it is big. I can't count how many collapses we heard and felt today.
Snow Profile
Aspect
Northeast
Elevation
11,100'
Slope Angle
25°
Comments
The clues were obvious today and we tailored our skiing to suit what our surroundings were telling us. Still great powder skiing, well worth a couple of laps. Have fun out there.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable
Coordinates
