Manti-La Sal Avalanche Center

US Forest Service Manti-La Sal National Forest

Introduction: Good Afternoon! This is Max Forgensi with the USFS Manti-La Sal Avalanche Center with your avalanche and mountain weather advisory. Today is Tuesday, December 28th, 2004 at 4:00 p.m. This advisory will be updated again on Thursday Morning.

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:

We are patiently waiting for looks like to be a good shot of snow for the La Sal mountains. The snow should start flying late tonight and extend all the way to Friday. One to two feet of snow is expected in the mountains. The skiing conditions haven’t changed too much lately, consolidated powder can be found on North facing aspects below tree line, while on those South Aspects below tree line, it is a mixture of breakable and supportable crusts. Above tree line, conditions around ridges are definitely wind affected. Most sun crusts above tree line are supportable, while over on those Northerly aspects, there is a myriad of wind slabs, soon to get another consisted slab in the days to come.

Current Conditions: (click location for latest data)

Geyser Pass Trailhead (9,600’): 24” of snow on the ground.

Pre-Laurel Peak (11,700’): 3:00 p.m. temperature is 19 degrees, and the winds are averaging 25 mph out of the S with gusts as high as 47.

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

Mountain Weather: (At 10,500’)

We are at the doorstep of a large front passing through our area, periods of heavy snow will start tonight and continue through Thursday.

Tonight: Snow showers expected past 3:00 a.m. Low near 15. Winds will be out of the South at 20-25 mph, increasing to 30-35 mph. 2”-4” possible.

Wednesday: Periods of snow. High near 31. Winds will be out of the SSE at 30-35 mph, gusts as high as 60 possible. Chance of precipitation is 90%. 5”-9” of new snow is expected.

Avalanche Conditions:

The board is set for the next storm, we are just waiting for the pieces to move. An assault is going to stress our snow pack, what slopes will fail in this coming storm? The winds are going to be strong, and out of the S-SW. This afternoon, we observed snow already starting to load those Northerly slopes. The transported snow will be loaded on these Northerly, leeward sides of ridges and peaks. How far down the slope the majority of the snow load will be depends on how fast the wind will blow. The faster the wind, the farther down the slope the snow drifts will be. The sun-crusts on those Southern aspects are smooth and slick, which have facets developing underneath their breakable crusts. We are in a wait and see mode for now. I am going to rate the avalanche danger at MODERATE to start off the morning tomorrow on those steep Northerly aspects. The avalanche danger will rise as the storm progresses, so continue to read this bulletin throughout the week before heading out to the mountains.

Nordic and Skate Skiing:

Be prepared for a workout, and the resistance increasing each day of this week. Let the snow start to fly for more resistance.