Observation Date
1/13/2024
Observer Name
Nauman, Jamison
Region
Moab » Gold Basin
Location Name or Route
Goldminer and Telegold
Weather
Sky
Broken
Wind Direction
West
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
The day started partly sunny and nice, but slowly got more cloudy through the day. There were some moderate winds on the ridges and a decent bit of snow was blowing off the Talking Mtn ridgeline into Dark Canyon. It stayed pretty cold all day.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Dense Loose
Wind Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
I have not seen Gold Basin as completely wind affected really ever. Only the most sheltered treed areas have soft snow. The wind effects run the full gamet of hard crust to breakable crusts. The alpine is still incredibly thin, the wind has really stripped things bare.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Wind Loading
Collapsing
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
We had numerous collapses today, particularly, and surprisingly on south and southwest aspects mainly on relatively new wind slabs. Interestingly, these collapses ranged from 11,700' all the way down to the bottom of the Gold Basin trail very near the trailhead. They were spooky, large collapses that gave me the chills. We also had one collapse on a mid-elevation west aspect. Interestingly, there was also quite large surface hoar on the Laurel ridgeline above Laurel meadow. Based on the downgraded storm forecast, I don't think we'll go to high danger tomorrow, but the wind could tip the scales.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
There are wind slabs everywhere and many pulled out on almost all aspects.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
We felt facets almost everywhere when poking around with poles and doing quick pits, even on south aspects... Depending on how much snow we get tonight, we may start seeing avalanches fail on these. I honestly think we have to worry about PWL on south aspects at this point...
Comments
I dug a quick pit and isolated a CT column on upper Gold Miner on skiers right. The column failed on isolation just under the last suncrust in facets. The suncrust is not that strong and we experienced a collapse shortly after digging the pit as we reversed coarse deciding not to ski Goldminer
All kinds of mischief by Uncle Gusty
Numerous wind slabs pulled out on west aspects of Talking Mtn.
The wind destroyed Tele Gold.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable
Coordinates
