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 Wednesday, February 9th, 2005 at 8:30 am.  This bulletin is sponsored in part by Canyon Voyages, Moab’s finest river running and retail store, proud sponsors of the Friends of the Manti-La Sal Avalanche Center.  This advisory will expire in 24 hours.

 

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:

The weather is clearing to greet us with 8 to 16 inches of new snow, a thankfully refreshing coating to the mountains.  You can expect to find powder skiing and riding on wind sheltered slopes and in the trees at all elevations and aspects, with snow depths increasing with altitude.  As you poke out of the trees and wind shadows the snow will be wind effected, so choose your slopes wisely for some enjoyable conditions.  The road was plowed yesterday and is in great shape. 

 

Current Conditions: (click location for latest data)

Geyser Pass Trailhead (9,600’):  43” at the SNOTEL

Pre-Laurel Peak (11,700’):  The weather station is down again, we will be up to fix it on Thursday. 

Gold Basin and South Mountain:  Around 75” to 85” of settled snow on the ground. 

 

Mountain Weather: (At 10,500’)

A high pressure system will remain over the area until Thursday night, when a upper level Low Pressure system will start to move in and hopefully produce some more snow for the mountains.

Today: Partly cloudy, high near 29.  Wind Chill values of 0-+10 expected.  Winds will be out of the NNW at 5 mph.
Tonight: Partly cloudy, low near 4.  Wind Chill values of –8 to –2 expected.  Winds will be out of the NE then veer to the SE at 10 mph.
Thursday: Mostly cloudy, high near 30.  Wind Chill values of –10 to 0 expected.  Winds will be out of the SW at 10-15 mph. 

 

Avalanche Conditions:

The storm has left us 8” at the Geyser Pass Trailhead, 12” in Gold Basin and even more up higher.  There is some serious density differences within the new snow, it is kind of like a three layer cake, with the heaviest part in the middle.  We suspect that in the middle of the storm, the wind picked up for a couple of hours.  Another sign that the wind picked up during the storm is the fact there is graupel mixed into the new snow as well.  With this new snow pack structure, there is widespread whoomphing.  Yesterdays observations yielded numerous loose snow avalanches on steep slopes, with a big one in Exxon’s Folly.  Remember N-E aspects had some significant surface hoar and facets on the snow surface before this storm, and it is now acting as a weak layer for slides to fail on.  The last clue for travelers today is that the last few inches of snow came in light and calm and may be hiding the wind effected surface texture of slabby snow out there, so don’t be fooled-poke around in the snow and look for test slopes.  What does this all boil down to?  A CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger on slopes steeper than 35 degrees on lee and cross-loaded slopes and gullies.  Look for the most loading on NW-N-NE aspects.  All other slopes less than about 35 degrees have a MODERATE to LOW danger.  Remember a CONSIDERABLE danger means human triggered avalanches are probable, and natural avalanches are possible.

 

Nordic and Skate Skiing:

There is a great Nordic Track going all the way to Gold Basin, for those venturing up to Geyser Pass, happy trail breaking!