Avalanche Advisory
Advisory: Abajo Area Mountains Issued by Eric Trenbeath for Saturday - March 17, 2018 - 7:27am
bottom line

The avalanche danger is generally LOW but that doesn't mean no danger, and backcountry travelers still need to maintain a standard level of avalanche awareness by continuing to keep these things in mind.

-Ride slopes one at a time and stay out from underneath run out zones when someone else is on the slope.

-Suspect steep, wind drifted slopes that have a smooth rounded appearance or that have a hollow sound or feel to them

-Suspect areas of steep, rocky, or radical terrain right around treeline and above that faces NW-N-E where it still may be possible to trigger an avalanche 2-3' deep on weak, sugary, faceted snow near the ground.

-With daytime heating, avoid steep slopes with sloppy wet snow.




special announcement

Episode 7 of the UAC Podcast "Mastery and False Mastery - An Interview with 'Big' Don Sharaf" is live. With a snow career spanning over 30 years, Don has enough mileage in the mountains to have learned a thing or two, including the profound value of humility when staring into the face of the dragon. Listen in on our conversation about the idea of mastery and if such a thing can exist in the avalanche world. Check it out on ​the UAC blog, ITunes, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts.

The UAC Marketplace is still open. Our online marketplace still has deals on skis, packs, airbag packs, beacons, snowshoes, soft goods and much more.


INSTAGRAM! We now have a UAC-Moab Instagram page. You can find it here....but better yet follow us on your smartphone. Confused? Ask a teenager.

current conditions

Wind and sun have been hard on this year's thin snow pack and it's dwindling rapidly since the last significant storm cycle now more than two weeks ago. South facing slopes have mostly melted out to the ground, and general cover on shady aspects is 2-3'. Kevin Dressell was up earlier in the week and sent in this report on the end of winter.

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

Snow totals at Buckboard Flat (8924')

Snow totals at Camp Jackson (8858')


Horse Head Mountain and the view west from North Creek Pass.

recent activity

Forecaster Brett Kobernik remotely triggered this large avalanche on Thursday, on the Manti-Skyline. This area is in the north zone of the Manti-La Sal National Forest. This is a frightening display of the power of buried, persistent weak layers.

weather

Today will be breezy up there with SSW winds blowing in the 25-30 mph range along ridge tops. High temps at 10,000' will be near 30 degrees. Mostly sunny skies this morning should give way to approaching clouds and a chance for snow showers late this afternoon. We should pick up a couple inches overnight, with the bulk of the storm moving through on Sunday. Looks like we might see 5-9".

general announcements

The UAC has new support programs with Outdoor Research and Darn Tough. Support the UAC through your daily shopping. When you shop at Smith's, or online at Outdoor Research, REI, Backcountry.com, Darn Tough, Patagonia, NRS, Amazon, eBay a portion of your purchase will be donated to the FUAC. See our Donate Page for more details on how you can support the UAC when you shop.

Benefit the Utah Avalanche Center when you buy or sell on eBay - set the Utah Avalanche Center as a favorite non-profit in your eBay account here and click on eBay gives when you buy or sell. You can choose to have your seller fees donated to the UAC, which doesn't cost you a penny

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.