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Observation: Gold Basin

Observation Date
4/3/2025
Observer Name
Nauman, Benson
Region
Moab » Gold Basin
Location Name or Route
Goldminers zone to Funnel
Weather
Sky
Obscured
Precipitation
Moderate Snowfall
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
It snowed most of the day picking up mid-morning with about 3-4" accumulating while we were out touring (9a-3p). The wind was pretty strong on the ridgelines, but relatively easy to get out of if you stepped out of the most exposed positions. Seemed like mostly a southwest wind, but it was a bit chaotic at times.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
9"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Melt-Freeze Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
It was pretty much full blower today once you got out of the wind affected zone on the high ridgel lines. Probably closer to a foot of new snow at timberline, but there was also lots of wind transport so difficult to tell at times. There were still some areas where old icy frozen snow had been exposed by the wind on exposed positions. There is just enough snow to hide many rocks and obstacles on solar aspects that have fully melted out - can be pretty hazardous.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Heavy Snowfall
Wind Loading
Cracking
Red Flags Comments
There was significant wind transport and wind slabs were building in many locations, but were mostly isolated. We observed some larger cracking along the Laurel ridgeline where wind was the most intense. However, we got some cracking in the first Laurel chute and on the left side of Goldminers. These cracks didn't shoot out more than 3 or 4 feet, but were noticeable where the wind had started consolidating snow into slabs. This was particularly evident in concave features where snow was being deposited by wind. The old snow on solar aspects was very strong.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
Wind drifts will continue to grow and be potentially reactive until the weather shifts. Although we got some cracking on wind affected snow, nothing that propagated out far enough to be worrisome. If you were skiing tight, steep terrain, small (5-10') soft slabs would probably pull out into a more sluff-like slide. We had some semi-blocky sluffing in the Funnel while we skied it, but all very manageable. The one larger crack we saw (20-30') on the ridgeline was a much harder slab. There is plenty of snow for transport and it does seem the moderate density is making it set up into reactive slabs relatively fast if we get the wind energy to form them. Tomorrow will be a heads up day to see if/how much this problem increases.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #2 Comments
We could still feel the facets down there on north aspects with pole probing.
Comments
Fun, but slightly slabby snow filled in by the wind in a small concavity we skied. Some big snow flakes!
Touring was a little awkward on solar aspects with a slippery old snow surface underneath the new snow.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
Coordinates