Manti-La Sal Avalanche Center

US Forest Service Manti-La Sal National Forest

Introduction: Good Morning! This is Evan Stevens with the USFS Manti-La Sal Avalanche Center with your avalanche and mountain weather advisory. Today is Sunday, December 19th, 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:

I am running out of creative ways to paint the same picture that we have had now for the past 10 days of high pressure. The weather models don’t look like things are going to change much either. What this leaves for us is amazing travel conditions with warm weather, calm winds and clear skies. It is a perfect time to go tag a few peaks, or walk a few ridgelines in the sky above the desert. The best skiing and riding conditions can be found in below treeline shady places, where there is actually some enjoyable recrystalized powder to be had. Above treeline it is a mixed bag of hammered snow surfaces, be ready for anything! Sunny aspects are pretty crusty.

Current Conditions: (click location for latest data)

Geyser Pass Trailhead (9,600’): 28 degrees out with 21”-27” on the ground

Pre-Laurel Peak (11,700’): 7:00 am temperature is 21 degrees, with winds out of the WSW at 9 mph, gusting to 32.

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

Mountain Weather: (At 10,500’)

Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 40. West southwest wind around 5 mph.
Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 23. Southwest wind between 5 and 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Monday: Partly cloudy, with a high near 39. West wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Avalanche Conditions:

There just is not too much too report out there in terms of avalanche conditions. Yesterday, I spent the day searching high and low for weak snow and places that might be prone to avalanche, to put the danger rating to the test. We were hard pressed to find more than the occasional pocket that would make us think twice. Between the warm weather and winds the snowpack has been jerked back and forth and is pretty much a big lazy lump of snow that doesn’t feel like doing anything anymore. If you are going to find trouble it will be in pockets of MODERATE avalanche danger at and above treeline on wind loaded slopes steeper than 35 degrees, most likely on NE-N-NW aspects. Southerly aspects are getting thin as the sun relentlessly hammers them. On all other terrain the avalanche danger is LOW.

Nordic and Skate Skiing:

An enjoyable day for you classic Nordic and Skate skiers as tracks are packed out and fast to Geyser Pass and Gold Basin.