UDOT PLANNED AVALANCHE CLOSURES!!

Observation: Moab

Observation Date
12/9/2018
Observer Name
Dave Garcia
Region
Moab
Location Name or Route
Laurel Highway>Goldminer's/Cabin Run>Tele Gold
Red Flags
Red Flags
Collapsing
Poor Snowpack Structure
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
We experienced multiple collapses in our travels today. Honestly, too many to even keep track of. As soon as we exited from Goldminer's area and crossed the drainage heading towards Tele Gold we started getting collapses. In other words, as soon as we got to terrain with northerly aspects we experienced widespread collapsing. We had a couple collapses on our first lap up Tele Gold and then didn't experience any more in that zone. On the way out we dug a pit on the far skiers left side of Tele Heaven. The pit was dug on a 31 degree slope with a NE aspect. I expected failures on the facets above the crust, but I was surprised by how sensitive the weak layer is in this location. We conducted two compression tests and a propagation saw test. All three tests failed on the buried facets on top of the crust 60 cm below the surface. I measured these facets at 2mm. All three tests failed with sudden planar fractures. The results were CT1(SP), CT1(SP,) and PST 0/100 (END) down 60cm. This score means the PST failed on isolation. It failed on isolation and the slab popped out with some serious energy.
Comments
It's all about terrain choices right now. Observers have been experiencing collapses every day since the last snowfall. The snowpack clearly has the energy to produce avalanches. Furthermore I really don't trust the structure of the snowpack in most areas. On most slopes that held snow from October we are seeing (from the ground up) Depth Hoar, Crust, Facets, Slab. Our Slab is the most recent snow that fell over a week ago. At this point that storm snow is well consolidated (4F+) and is forming a good slab over our buried weak layers. The photo below is a shot of the slab that popped out of our PST on isolation.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable
Coordinates