Manti-La Sal Avalanche Center

US Forest Service Manti-La Sal National Forest               

Introduction:  Good Morning!  This is Max Forgensi with the USFS Manti-La Sal Avalanche Center with your avalanche and mountain weather advisory.  Today is Monday, November 29th, 2004 at 7:30 a.m.  

 

To see past advisories check out the ARCHIVE.  To see current conditions go to our WEATHER PAGE.  To see photos go to the AVIPHOTOS page.

 

General Conditions:

Can you say winter conditions?  That’s what is on tap today up in the La Sals!  There are lots of hazards out there today, so lets tackle them one at a time.  The road conditions should be your first concern.  The Grand County Road Department has not been up there since before Thanksgiving and two feet of snow has fallen since then.  Give the Road Crew a couple of hours before venturing out.  In fact, give yourself a couple hours before heading up as well because of the cold temperatures and Wind Chill.  The temperatures this morning at the trailhead is a chilly 3.4 degrees above 0.  Wind chill today will make it feel like –14 to 4 above, any exposed skin will be susceptible to frost bite.  The avalanche danger will be the greatest concern on the slope, so read on.  The snow kept falling all day yesterday in Gold Basin, giving the mountains another 11” in 24 hours.  The storm total at the Geyser Pass Trailhead is 18” and we have a total of 29.5” of snow at the SNOTEL site. 

Yesterday, a few of us hardy skiers went out to check out some of the favorite low elevation slopes, only to find what most people assumed…thin snow cover.  I would keep your skiing to above 10,000’ for the time being.  If you do venture out to low elevations, be wary of obstacles such as rocks and logs, hiding just at or below the snow surface. 

 

Mountain Weather:

Current Conditions:         Geyser Pass Trailhead:  Temperature 3.4 degrees

                                     Pre-Laurel Peak:           Temperature 6 degrees, winds out of the NNE at 9 mph, gusting to 17

The wind has blown out of the N-NE for the past 40 hours at moderate to strong wind speeds (15-30 mph)

Today:  Mostly cloudy, High near 16.  Wind chill –14-4 above.  NNE winds 10-15, gusting to 25.  Less than an inch of snow is expected

Tonight:  Partly cloudy.  Low 6 below freezing.  Wind chill values of –17 to –12 degrees.  NNE winds 5 mph

Tuesday:  Partly cloudy, High near 24, low –8.

 

Avalanche Conditions:

With 18” falling in the past 48 hours, winds transporting snow onto S-SW slopes, a significant buried surface hoar layer from 11/20, and wind slab from 11/26 at or above treeline on Northern aspects, most slopes today will be reactive, if Mother Nature didn’t take care of them during this current event.   Yesterday, we had lots of settling and shooting cracks from our skis.  Active loading of starting zones should continue as the day wears on with winds blowing consistently out of the N-NNE at 15mph.  Signs such as test slopes with shooting cracks, collapsing of the snow and hollow sounds will be great clues of instability if you are out and about today.  The bottom line is an avalanche danger of CONSIDERABLE on wind loaded slopes steeper than 30 degrees at and above treeline and on open steep slopes at lower elevations.  Look out for sluffing of the new light density snow as well on slopes steeper than 30 degrees.  Today is a day to watch your slope angles and keep them at 30 and below on open terrain, or stick to the tight trees, especially with continued low visibility where the avalanche danger is reduced.  If you do dig snow pits, use them as a justification NOT TO SKI, instead of as a justification to ski.

 

Nordic and Skate Skiing:

Nordic conditions will be great if you like to get out and break trail-skating will have to wait until the new snow has been packed out a bit.