Episode 3 of the UAC podcast is live. We talk with UDOT Avalanche Program Supervisor Bill Nalli on how he and his teams keep the Greatest Snow on Earth from avalanching over the open roads and highways of the state. Check it out on ITunes, Stitcher, the UAC blog, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Spend some time improving your rescue skills or learning about avalanches in these two, upcoming Moab area classes:
The UAC Marketplace is online. The holiday auction is closed, but our online marketplace still has deals on skis, packs, airbag packs, beacons, snowshoes, soft goods and much more.
The mountains picked up 15" of snow from the Sunday storm but coverage is still very thin. Backcountry travelers need to be cautious of buried obstacles such as rocks and downed trees beneath the recent blanket of fresh snow. Base depth is 24" at the Geyser Pass Trailhead.
Travelers on Sunday reported deep powder snow and widespread collapsing of the snowpack, a sure sign of dangerous avalanche conditions. See details in these observations submitted by Tim Mathews and Brian Murdock.
New snow totals in Gold Basin.
Snow totals at the Geyser Pass Trailhead, (9600')
Wind, temperature, and humidity on Pre Laurel Peak (11,700')
Road conditions to Geyser Pass Trailhead: Road is plowed and snowpacked.
Grooming conditions: Road into Gold Basin is groomed and set with classic track.