Avalanche Advisory
Advisory: Abajo Area Mountains Issued by Eric Trenbeath for Saturday - March 11, 2017 - 7:04am
special announcement

The Abajo/Blue Mountain avalanche advisory will provide detailed information on the weekends. During the week, general information and a danger rating will be posted.

current conditions

A weak disturbance to the north has spread a few residual clouds over our area this morning. We've had a good re-freeze up high, but it's a very warm 44 degrees at Camp Jackson. NW winds are in the 20 mph range along ridge tops. Snow conditions are a mixed bag though the dedicated enthusiast can still find something to get excited about. Corn-like snow can be found on SE-W aspects - work the sun for best results and finish up before the snow becomes wet an sloppy - while northerly aspects offer a variety of conditions from wind affected to soft, settled powder.
Avalanche Problem 1
type aspect/elevation characteristics
LIKELIHOOD
LIKELY
UNLIKELY
SIZE
LARGE
SMALL
TREND
INCREASING DANGER
SAME
DECREASING DANGER
over the next 12 hours
description

With soaring temperatures today, the danger for loose wet slide activity will increase on sun exposed slopes. Look for signs of instability such as roller balls or pinwheels, and of course, natural, loose wet slide activity. Stay off of and out from under steep, sun exposed slopes if any of these signs are present, or if the snow is wet and sloppy over your boot tops.
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

As always however, low danger doesn't mean no danger and here are a couple of other thiings to consider when traveling in avalanche terrain.

Wind Slab: Extreme, upper elevation, wind exposed terrain still harbors the occasional wind slab. If you push into this type of terrain, carefully evaluate wind rolls, and hard, hollow feeling slabs.

Persistent Slab: In general, snowpits and stability tests have shown a stabilization of the early February, faceted weak layer. But if you find yourself contemplating a steep line on a northerly facing aspect, probe around with your pole for underlying weak facets. If you find them, and there is a slab on top, reconsider your slope selection.

weather

A few clouds will move through the area this morning as a shortwave trough passes by to the north. Today we'll see mostly sunny skies, light NW winds, and high temperatures in the mid 40's at 10,000'. A second shortwave will move through to the north early Sunday morning followed by high pressure for the up coming week.
general announcements

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The information in this advisory is from the US Forest Service which is solely responsible for its content. This advisory describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.