Support the Utah Avalanche Center just by buying groceries!
Do you buy groceries at City Market? When you register your Kroger rewards card with their Community Rewards program, they will donate to the Utah Avalanche Center whenever you make a purchase. It's easy, only takes a minute, and doesn't cost you anything. Details here.
Road Conditions: Grand County pushed through one lane up to the trailhead on Monday and the road is passable.
Backcountry 101 Avalanche Class
We will be offering a Backcountry 101 avalanche class on Feb 3, 4. This course will include a night classroom session and a day in the field. Cost is $125 with proceeds to benefit the Utah Avalanche Center Moab. For more information or to sign up go here.
The mountains are as white as I have ever seen them. Thanks to Reed Kennard for this shot of the North Group from Gold Knob.
Skies are clear and it's looking to be another beautiful day in the mountains. Northeasterly ridge top winds this morning are averaging 15-20 mph with gusts into the 30's. They blew out of the northwest most of the day yesterday with similar speeds. Early morning temperatures are the warmest they have been in about a week, and it's currently 28 degrees at the Geyser Pass Trailhead and 23 on Pre Laurel Peak.
UAC Director Mark Staples paid me a visit yesterday and we snowmobiled around La Sal Pass, getting high up under the north face of South Mountain. We found excellent powder conditions out of the wind zone, but even the upper alpine bowls had soft, if not slightly wind affected snow. Most of the wind activity over the past few days has been confined to the highest peaks and ridges, with mostly calm conditions below. South facing aspects were getting moist late in the day, and will likely be lightly crusted over this morning.
Observer Reed Kennard was out yesterday with a party in the north group. They found a mixed bag of conditions that included some soft, settled powder and damp snow. For a full report of their travels go here.
Wind, temperature and humidity on Pre Laurel Peak.(11,700')
Storm totals and temperature in Gold Basin.(10,000')
Snow totals, temperature and snow/water equivalent at the Geyser Pass Trailhead. (9600')
UAC Director Mark Staples high up under the north face of South Mountain. Though slightly wind affected, good, soft snow can still be found in alpine areas.