Observation: Moab

Observation Date
1/24/2019
Observer Name
MP
Region
Moab
Location Name or Route
Noriega's West Glades
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Cracking
Collapsing
Poor Snowpack Structure
Comments
Went for a ski up to Noriega's peak, we experienced widespread collapsing on all aspects and elevations of our tour. We had small localized collapses right out of the parking lot and along the trail. At about 9400 feet on a due west aspect I noticed the slab had gotten a little harder to punch through with a ski pole and felt about 5 to 6 inches thick. We were working out way up through a big meadow and at the top of it got a massive collapse the whole thing was connected, it sounded like rolling thunder. Up top near the peak was very wind effected, everything from supportable windboard, to breakable crust, to stiff wind deposited snow. We had another big collapse up top about 300 vertical feet from the summit, this one made a little tree about 40 meters away from me shake. All in all it was a fun day out and some really good snow for low angle skiing.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable
Coordinates