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 Thursday December 16th, 2004 at 8:30 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:

Yesterday, I was impressed by how well the consolidated powder on North aspects was skiing.  Plenty of snow to ski out there still, and it appears that corn conditions are not setting up yet.  S-W aspects are definitely crusting up, although the crust is a mix of supportable and non-supportable.  In most areas it has formed to a thickness of 1”.  The high-pressure system is still dominating our weather pattern here in Moab, although for the past few days, the daytime high temperatures and nighttime low temperatures are slowly becoming colder.  Unfortunately, it appears that snow isn’t in our forecast for quite some time.  It is time to wash your cars, burn your skis and pray for snow.  The high temperature yesterday at the trailhead reached 34 degrees

 

Current Conditions: (click location for latest data)

Geyser Pass Trailhead (9,600’): 25 degrees out with 22”-28” on the ground

Pre-Laurel Peak (11,700’):  6:00 am temperature is 16 degrees, with winds out of the WSW at 24 mph, gusting to 33.

Gold Basin has about 36-40” of settled snow on the ground.

 

Mountain Weather: (At 10,500’)

Today. Partly cloudy.  High near 33.  Winds will be out of the NE at 10-15 mph.

Tonight. Clear.  Low near 13.  Winds will be out of the NNE at 10mph.

Friday.   Sunny.  High near 33.  Winds will be out of the NNW at 10 mph. 

We are wondering if our Pre-Laurel Peak anemometer is working correctly due to the fact the winds have been quite  consistent as of late. 

 

Avalanche Conditions:

Some surprising places for avalanches in the La Sals.   Observations yesterday showed two new avalanches in Red Snow Cirque and one on the SE aspect of Mellenthin.  Two of the three avalanches recorded yesterday were on SE aspects, starting at about 11,800’ and slab avalanches.  These avalanches were quite sizable and they ran the full track in to the their respective deposition zone.  They could have been affected by the warm up we saw in the past couple of days.  The other avalanche in Red Snow Cirque was in what I call the Corner Pocket, a slope that most people cross to gain access to the Cirque.  We have experienced avalanche activity on NE-NW and SE-SW aspects within the last week.   Keep your game face on if traveling to higher elevations today and watch out for these steep (>35 deg) sun-affected or wind loaded slopes.  I am going to rate the backcountry danger at MODERATE on these slopes.  One thing to note for the formation of future avalanches…surface hoar has developed to 11,300’ and near-surface facets are forming currently on our sunny aspects. 

 

Nordic and Skate Skiing:

An enjoyable day for you classic Nordic and Skate skiers as tracks are packed out and fast.