Avalanche Advisory
Advisory: Abajo Area Mountains Issued by Eric Trenbeath for Friday - February 12, 2016 - 6:41am
bottom line

The avalanche danger is generally LOW but there remains a very isolated, or MODERATE danger for triggering a deep avalanche to the ground on steep, upper elevation, northerly aspects. Suspect steep slopes with convex break-overs or areas of rocky, more radical terrain.

And with daytime heating, the danger for loose wet avalanche activity may rise to MODERATE on sun exposed slopes in the afternoon.




special announcement

Thanks to the Canyon Country Discovery Center for hosting Monticello's first Know Before You Go presentation, and to everyone who turned out and made it a success!

current conditions


It's a mixed bag of spring like conditions out there. Wind and sun have taken their toll on the snow surface in exposed areas. Soft, powder-like snow can be found on sheltered, shady aspects. Varying degrees of breakable crust can be found on sunny slopes, with supportable corn snow developing on due south aspects.


Winds, temperature and humidity on Abajo Peak.

Snow totals at Buckboard Flat.

Snow totals at Camp Jackson.
recent activity
Avalanche Problem 1
type aspect/elevation characteristics
LIKELIHOOD
LIKELY
UNLIKELY
SIZE
LARGE
SMALL
TREND
INCREASING DANGER
SAME
DECREASING DANGER
over the next 24 hours
description

Time and warm temperatures have largely healed instabilities within the snowpack. Snowpits reveal some weak layers, but they aren't reacting to applied stress. The only concern at this point is weak, sugary, faceted snow at the ground. It is growing increasingly unlikely that you will trigger an avalanche down to this weak snow but if you did, it would be large and dangerous. You are mostly likely to find this isolated problem on steep, upper elevation slopes with a northerly aspect. Suspect areas with steep, convex rolls in and around rocky, more radical terrain.


I dug this snowpit on a north facing aspect near North Creek Pass. The weak, sugary, faceted snow also known as depth hoar is the primary concern.

Avalanche Problem 2
type aspect/elevation characteristics
LIKELIHOOD
LIKELY
UNLIKELY
SIZE
LARGE
SMALL
TREND
INCREASING DANGER
SAME
DECREASING DANGER
over the next 24 hours
description

In my travels on Thursday, I observed the snow getting sloppy and wet on southerly aspects. I did not observe any wet slide avalanche activity. Nevertheless, as daytime heating affects the snow, be alert to signs of instability such as sloppy, wet snow, and roller balls or pinwheels coming down the slope. If these signs are present, it is time to stay off of and out from under steep, sun exposed slopes.

weather

Today

Sunny, with a high near 46. West southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

Tonight

Mostly clear, with a low around 29. Southwest wind around 10 mph.

Saturday

Sunny, with a high near 45. West southwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Saturday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 26. Breezy, with a west northwest wind 15 to 20 mph.

Sunday

Sunny, with a high near 38. Breezy, with a northwest wind 15 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph.

Sunday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 25. Blustery.

Washington's Birthday

Sunny, with a high near 36.
general announcements

Let me know what you are seeing down there by posting an observation here.  You can also call me on my cell phone at 801-647-8896

To receive this advisory by email go here.

This information does not apply to developed ski areas or highways where avalanche control is normally done.  This advisory is from the U.S.D.A. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. This advisory describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always exist.