Observation Date
12/3/2019
Observer Name
Garcia/Bolos
Region
Moab
Location Name or Route
Gold Basin
Weather
Sky
Few
Wind Direction
Northwest
Wind Speed
Calm
Weather Comments
Sunny and calm. Beautiful Day.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Dense Loose
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
The snow is already getting damp on South and West aspects, especially at lower elevations. Many roller balls were seen on these aspects. North and East is still cold and light and skiing great.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
The only red flag noted today was poor snowpack structure on a mid elevation east facing slope with more cohesive snow on top of less cohesive faceted snow at the ground.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
I was out yesterday and found a weak interface 25cm off the ground on a NE aspect at upper elevation. I dug today to see if I could find the same layer on an East face at mid elevation. I found the same weak layer today 25 cm above the ground. The bottom of the pack is the snow from the 11/20 storm that dropped about a foot in the upper elevations. This snow sat around for five days before the 2 feet of snow on 11/25. The 11/20 snow didn't completely rot, but there is faceting occurring in this layer. I was able to identify 1.5 mm angled crystals in the bottom 25 cm of the snow pack. The overlaying slab isn't super well bonded. Yesterday it failed a compression test at CT22 RP and today the same layer was CT21 RP. An ECT yesterday scored ECTX and today was ECTN27. Meaning it fractured on 27 taps, but did not shoot across the column. Right now this is not a huge concern, but we will have to watch this layer when it gets more of a load.
Snow Profile
Aspect
East
Elevation
10,800'
Slope Angle
26°
Comments
We observed some old natural avalanches that ran during the 11/28-29 storm cycle. We spotted three small fractures in the meat cleavers. Several small fractures at the top of tele gold. We walked across some old buried debris on our skin track up tele gold. We saw a small debris pile at the toe of El Pinche, and a larger slide on the NE face of Tuk. Moderate danger mid and upper elevation North and East, low danger elsewhere.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
