US Forest Service Manti-La Sal National Forest

 Introduction:  Good afternoon, this is Dave Medara with the USFS Manti-La Sal Avalanche Center with your avalanche and mountain weather advisory.  Today is Friday, Dec. 29th, at 5:00 PM. This advisory will expire in 24 hours.

 

CHECK OUT OUR NEW GROOMING EQUIPMENT HERE.

 

To see past advisories check out the ARCHIVE.  To see current conditions go to our WEATHER PAGE.  To see photos go to the AVIPHOTOS page.

Please give us your observations from the field HERE.  The more observations we get, the better this forecast can be. 

 

We still have room in our AIARE level I avalanche class here in Moab scheduled for Jan 5th – 7th.  $190…Best deal in the USA! Call 435-636-3363 for more details.

 

  

General Conditions:

Another dud storm here in the La Sals, that has gone on to wreak havoc in Colorado. We need some havoc here! Disapointing snow totals are: 2cm (less than 1”) on our snow stake at the Geyser Pass TH, 3 cm at our stick in Gold Basin (just over 1”). The ONLY good news is that with some favorable orographics, there seemed to be quite a bit more snow up at Geyser Pass where I measured 3 “. Still not what we need to build a decnt winter snowpack. Conditions remain thin and rotten off the roads and trails in the La Sals. Be careful out there.  No Help on the way for the next few days on that sscore either, looks like the next snow will be after New Year.

 

The road to the Geyser Pass Trailhead is plowed but there are some drifts that will require a high clearance vehicle. 4wd recommended.

 

There are groomed skate and classic trails for cross-country skiers up and over Geyser Pass at the moment. Most extensive grooming to date.  Volunteers were up and groomed today, and they will be the best conditions out there on the mountain. Check it out. Have fun!

 

Mountain Weather: (At 10,500’) –Tonight...Mostly clear. Lows zero to 10 above. North winds 10 to 15 mph with gusts to around 30 mph.

Saturday...Mostly sunny. Highs 25 to 35. North winds 10 to 20 mph.

Saturday Night...Mostly clear. Lows zero to 10 above. Northwest winds 10 to 20 mph. Gusts up to 35 mph in the evening.

Sunday...Mostly sunny. Highs in the 30s.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

Weather Station/ Location

Snow Depth (HS):  in./cm

New Snow (HN) in./cm

7:00 a.m. Temp (F)

Current Observations:  Wind, 48 hour snow

Geyser Pass Trailhead (9,600’): (snotel link)

20.0”

Less than 1”

25

.2 “ h2o

Geyser Pass

29”

3”

N/a 

Much More snow up high (east winds?)

Gold Basin and South Mountain

29”

1+ “

n/a

Thin, below normal coverage

Pre-Laurel Peak Station (11,705’)

N/a 

N/a 

12.5

9 mph from NNE

 

Avalanche Conditions: (Link to the International Avalanche Danger Scale here) –

 

Not much is changing in the avalanche equation right now but I expect the Avalanche Danger has risen correspondingly with the snowfall amounts we received from this Storm. The current NE wind and minimal new snow are not adding much to the hazard  below treeline.  We are currently calling the Avalanche danger MODERATE, meaning that human triggered avalanches are possible. There are still some stiff wind slabs at and above treeline. They may be in unusual locations due to the East winds we’ve had as well.  Wind will continue to be the player currently as the new snow amounts have not been that great. There is some snow available for transport now so keep an eye on the winds, particularly if you are going up high into the Alpine.  There is some very weak snow on the ground in the La Sals at the moment and it will not take much snow or wind to change the avalanche situation and increase the danger. We’ll update this forecast by Sunday morning.