Observation: Gold Basin

Observation Date
3/15/2022
Observer Name
Garcia
Region
Moab » Gold Basin
Location Name or Route
Gold Basin
Weather
Sky
Few
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
A very warm day with highs in the upper 30's and strong sun.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Dense Loose
Melt-Freeze Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
I am no longer using the word "powder" to describe the snow surface. Today was warm and even the snow on north faces was getting heavy.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Rapid Warming
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Rapid Warming: It was hot out there today. Temperatures quickly rose from the teens this morning to upper 30's in the afternoon. Poor Snowpack structure remains. It is most widespread near tree line and below.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
Monday and Tuesday I traveled on untouched snow looking for signs of instability. I did not experience any collapsing or cracking. A low elevation pit revealed a shallow and weak snow pack at 9,930 ft on a NE slope at the bottom of Exxon's Folly. Total depth here was 110cm, this pit produced an ECTP10 failing on facets down 40cm. This has me worried about low elevation steep shots that are sparsely treed. Gain some elevation and the pack gets deeper and stronger. I dug a pit in the glades below middle snow cirque and it showed a stronger snow pack. Total depth was 195cm in a sheltered spot at 10,570 ft on a NE aspect. This pit produced a CTN (compression test no failure) and an ECTX (extended column no failure). A propagation saw test in this pit produced the following result: PST 37/100 END down 70cm on 220222. This means if you did trigger this layer it is capable of propagating and producing a slab avalanche over 2 feet deep. My CT and ECT results are promising, and show the weak layer gaining some strength, but there is still a very real possibility of triggering this layer and producing avalanches.
Photo 1: ECTP10 NE aspect at 9,930
Photo 2: ECTX NE aspect 10,570
Photo 3: PST END 37/100 down 70cm.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
Coordinates