Avalanche Advisory
Advisory: Abajo Area Mountains Issued by Eric Trenbeath for Monday - February 5, 2018 - 6:57am
bottom line

There is an isolated or MODERATE avalanche danger on steep, upper elevation northerly facing slopes where more than about a foot of snow can be found overlying weak, sugary snow on the ground. Elsewhere the avalanche danger is generally LOW.
special announcement

Episode 3 of the UAC podcast is live. We talk with UDOT Avalanche Program Supervisor Bill Nalli on how he and his teams keep the Greatest Snow on Earth from avalanching over the open roads and highways of the state. Check it out on ITunes, Stitcher, the UAC blog, or wherever you get your podcasts.
current conditions

Overall snow cover remains very thin with depths ranging from 12-20" on shady aspects, to almost non-existent on sun exposed slopes. Base depth at Buckboard Flat is 13".

Kevin Dressel was out and about on Saturday Tuesday and reported his findings here.

Wind, temperature and humidity on Abajo Peak (11,000')

Snow totals at Buckboard Flat (8924')

Snow totals at Camp Jackson (8858')
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

Though isolated, a persistent slab danger still exists on steep, NW-N-E facing slopes above about 10,500 feet where more than about 16" of snow can be found on top of weak, sugary, faceted snow at the ground. Kevin Dressler was out over the weekend and reported collapsing and cracking in the snowpack in these areas - telltale signs of unstable snow.


Kevin Dressler photo.

weather
general announcements

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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 occur.