Observation: Colorado Bowl

Observation Date
2/24/2025
Observer Name
Garcia
Region
Moab » Geyser Pass » Colorado Bowl
Location Name or Route
Colorado Bowl
Weather
Sky
Few
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Light winds were swirling from multiple directions in Colorado Bowl today. No snow transport was observed. Strong sunshine and very warm temperatures, 43° F at Gold Basin and 28° F on PLP.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
I found soft powder on the low-angle slopes facing north and east in Colorado Bowl. Low-elevation slopes around the trailhead were damp.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
Our PWL problem is going to be with us for some time. What I saw today gives me very little confidence in our snowpack. I will echo Eric's sentiments in today's forecast; this problem could be with us for the duration of the season. I am not willing to ski anything that resembles avalanche terrain on any slope that harbors poor snow structure. At this point, it could be a waiting game until spring.
Pit #1 is an E aspect at 10,750'. ECTP 22 and ECTP 24 down 48 cm, failing on 1 mm NSF (2/11 weak layer). ECTP 25 down 80 cm failing on 1-2 mm facets. Avalanches are most likely to initiate on the 2/11 weak layer 48 cm below the surface, but the deeper result down 80 cm shows how an avalanche can easily step down to more deeply buried weak layers.
Photo below is the failure on the 2/11 layer
Shovel tilt tests failed easily on the 2/11 layer
Photo below is the deeper failure down 80cm
Pit #2 is due north at 10,760'. East was bad, but due north is even worse. ECTP 18 and ECTP 23 down 44 cm on NSF 1.5 - 2 mm.
This is simply a bad set up, especially for this time of year. It feels like spring in the town of Moab. This is when people start to think about bigger objectives in the mountains. The snowpack looks more like December. It is weak and shallow and I have zero confidence in it right now.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
None
Coordinates