La Sal Mountains
The mountains picked up about an inch of snow in the early hours this morning. Overnight winds averaged in the 20's from the WSW, with gusts to 40 mph. They have backed off this morning into the single digits. Settled, creamy, conditions can be found in sheltered areas at upper elevations. It is currently 28 degrees at Geyser Pass Winter Trailhead (GPWT), and 24 degrees at 10,000'. There is 50" of snow on the ground in Gold Basin, and 30" at GPWT.
Winds and temperature on Pre-Laurel Peak (11,705')
Temperature and new snow totals in Gold Basin (10,050')
Total snow depth and temperature near Geyser Pass Trailhead (9850')
Abajo Mountains
Winds on Abajo Peak have averaged in the teens overnight from the WSW, and the temperature at Buckboard Flat is 30 degrees. Snow last weekend improved conditions a bit but we are playing a difficult game of catch up this late in the season.
Snow totals at Camp Jackson (8968')
This is old news in avalanche world, but I got up yesterday to look at the Coyote Chute slide that was reported last Sunday. It turned out to be significantly larger than reported, as it wrapped around the ridge and out of sight. I estimate it to be about 800' wide with a maximum crown depth of 8'. It was caused by wind loading that finally over stressed buried weak layers underneath. this was an old snow avalanche, bringing home everything we say about buried persistent slabs, and the possibility of them being triggered by an over riding wind slab.