Observation: Laurel Highway

Observation Date
12/19/2022
Observer Name
Garcia
Region
Moab » Laurel Highway
Location Name or Route
Laurel Highway/Gold Basin
Weather
Sky
Clear
Wind Direction
Northwest
Wind Speed
Light
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Melt-Freeze Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
Plenty of great powder remains. Cold temps and calm winds have been kind to the 24 inches of snow that fell last week. The new snow has settled quite a bit, as evidenced by large settlement cones around vegetation. Boot pen is still deep at 33cm.
I encountered a thin melt freeze crust on slopes facing due South.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
Today I dug on a WNW facing slope at 11,200 ft. I found poor snowpack structure (surprise!) I did two ECT's with no results. ECTX x2. Despite these results, it is really hard to ignore the structure of the snowpack here. The facets are down about 70cm. They are 1.5 - 2mm in size and they are still very sugary, uncohesive, and remain fist density. It is hard to have confidence in this set up and I am still avoiding steep terrain that harbors this weak layer. It is nice to see ECTX, but there are plenty of places where you can trigger dangerous avalanches right now.
Snow Profile
Aspect
Northwest
Elevation
11,200'
Slope Angle
27°
Vegetation showing how much last weeks snow has settled.
Video
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
Coordinates