UDOT PLANNED AVALANCHE CLOSURES!!
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Observation: Moab

Observation Date
12/13/2015
Observer Name
Reed kennard
Region
Moab
Location Name or Route
Tele gold
Weather
Sky
Few
Wind Direction
Southeast
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Not a lot of wind up in gold basin, but their was plenty of snow being blown off of the peaks on our drive up the mountain. Temps were in the mid twenties and clouds began to move in later in the day.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Dense Loose
Faceted Loose
Wind Crust
Melt-Freeze Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
Any snow that has been sheltered from the sun and wind is still providing nice powder conditions. We encountered some melt freeze crust on sunny aspects and a thin wind crust in some areas.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Wind Loading
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Their was a skier triggered slide farther up gold basin yesterday, heavy wind transport on our drive up, and the usual sugary bottom layer was present when we dug a pit.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
Beware of windslabs on upper elevation leeward slopes
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #2 Comments
Our snow pit revealed a pencil hard slab 20 centimeters down sitting on top of an older layer of facets. Faceted snow was also present at the ground level. Any slide that does start has the potential to step down to ground level.
Snow Profile
Aspect
Northeast
Elevation
10,500'
Slope Angle
30°
Comments

Forecaster note: Expect the danger to rise to considerable today as the new snow begins to pile up.

Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate