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Observation: Moab

Observation Date
1/7/2017
Observer Name
Matt Van Scoyoc w/ Travis Nauman, Nate Ament, Chris Bolos, & Zacharia Levine
Region
Moab
Location Name or Route
Corkscrew Glades
Weather
Sky
Clear
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Calm
Weather Comments
Changing to overcast with snow flurries and calm to moderate winds out of the NW in the late afternoon.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
6"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Wind Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
6" to 8" of new snow on dense, supportable base. South to SW aspects had a wind/sun crust.
Red Flags
Red Flags Comments
No red flags. We had one collapse near the top of Corkscrew. See comments.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
It's down there, although in our pit we had to hit it very hard to get it to release. See Travis Nauman's snow pit observation.
Comments
The snow pack was surprisingly stable today. On the skin up, I dug several hand pits and tested the surface by skinning above or below our skin track and trying to get the new snow to pop. Nothing moved; the new snow was nicely bonded to the older surface. After we finished our snow pit (see Travis Nauman's observation), I skinned above the pit and jumped about 5 times and nothing moved. At the top of Corkscrew I ski cut the gully starting zone (on skiers right off the top) and nothing, no cracking or collapsing. Lastly, I ski cut the steep little slope at the bottom the the gully, as you traverse skiers left to the last shot. Again no signs of instability.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate