Snowpack

Observation: Moab

Matt Van Scoyoc w/ Travis Nauman, Nate Ament, Chris Bolos, & Zacharia LevineMoab
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Quick report

Red Flags Comment
<p>No red flags. We had one collapse near the top of Corkscrew. See comments.</p>

The snow pack was surprisingly stable today. On the skin up, I dug several hand pits and tested the surface by skinning above or below our skin track and trying to get the new snow to pop. Nothing moved; the new snow was nicely bonded to the older surface. After we finished our snow pit (see Travis Nauman's observation), I skinned above the pit and jumped about 5 times and nothing moved. At the top of Corkscrew I ski cut the gully starting zone (on skiers right off the top) and nothing, no cracking or collapsing. Lastly, I ski cut the steep little slope at the bottom the the gully, as you traverse skiers left to the last shot. Again no signs of instability.

Snowpack

Instability Comment
<p>It's down there, although in our pit we had to hit it very hard to get it to release. See Travis Nauman's snow pit observation.</p>

6" to 8" of new snow on dense, supportable base. South to SW aspects had a wind/sun crust.