Road Conditions: The road to Geyser Pass Trailhead is dirt and mud down low, snow packed and icy above. AWD and good tires are recommended.
Grooming: LUNA last groomed all trails on Thursday.
24 Hour Snow 0" 72 Hour Snow 0" Base Depth in Gold Basin 41" Wind NW 20-25 G40 Temp 20
Sitting on the front side of a ridge off the Pacific coast, we will remain under a mostly dry northwesterly flow through the week. A weak, shortwave trough affecting mainly northern Utah will drop SE through Colorado tonight bringing us clouds and a slight chance for snow showers. Clouds will linger into Tuesday before clearing out later in the day. Dry and sunny conditions return for the remainder if the week.
Observations from the weekend report widely variable snow surfaces ranging from isolated areas of soft snow, to varying thicknesses of wind and sun crusts, to even ice and rock hard wind board. A few shallow, isolated wind slabs were also observed amongst the otherwise wind blasted and sun crusted surfaces. On sheltered shady aspects, snow at or near the surface is becoming loose and weak. This is something to keep an eye on when new snow finally comes. The buried
persistent weak layer of
faceted snow at the base of the snow pack has gone largely dormant, and it seems like we can put this problem to bed for awhile. This doesn't mean it no longer exists, or that you can't trigger an avalanche on it, but the odds at this point are extremely unlikely. Northerly aspects with thinner snowpack areas, and very steep, rocky, radical terrain are the most suspect.
On the bright side, avalanche conditions are generally stable, and sunny blue skies make for brilliant days in the mountains. It's a good time to get out and explore or maybe bag a winter ascent of a peak that's been on your list. Be advised however that slick hard surfaces abound. Be mindful of exposure and carry a tool for self arrest.
A bluebird day in the alpine beats a day almost anywhere else, even with variable conditions! Travis Nauman photo.
