24 Hour Snow: 0" 72 Hour Snow: 0" Season Total Snow: 21" Depth at Gold Basin: 14"

Winds on Pre-Laurel Peak: SW 20-25 G 30 Temp: 34° F

Weather

All activity continues to remain well to the north of us as another warm and wet system homes in on the mountains of northern Utah and Colorado. For our area we'll continue to see well above normal temperatures, increasing clouds, and blustery southwest winds. Continued unsettled weather to the north will keep us under similar conditions with ever increasing temperatures over the next few days. A Christmas carrot is being dangled.

General Conditions

I basically did a driving tour around the range yesterday and got the truck into places I had no business being this time of year including Warner and Oowah Lakes. Most south aspects are bare at this point. In gullies and terrain features that hold snow, the surface ranges from firm to crusted. On northerly aspects, the snow line creeps down to about 8000 feet where about six inches of snow can be found. Above the Geyser Pass winter trailhead, 12-24 inches of snow can be found on northerly aspects but it is faceting through. Above tree line, many northerly aspects have been blasted down to the rocks. It's not a pretty picture out there. The good news is, we haven't seen any rain on snow.

For the very intrepid, decent turning is being reported on firm south aspects when they soften up. Dave also found good skiing in re-crystallized powder (aka faceted snow) on a northerly aspect near tree line but with the thin cover, the type of terrain where this is available is extremely limited. Dave also got over to the La Sal Pass area earlier this week. Read his report and all other observations here.

Gold Basin skyline as seen from the Warner Lake road. Mount Tukuhnikivatz on right.

Snowpack and Weather Data

NEW! Gold Basin webcam storm stake

Gold Basin Storm Stake (10,000')