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 Friday, February 11^th, 2005 at 7:30 pm. 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 and will be updated on Saturday.

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:

Another storm is coming for the La Sal and Abajo Mountain Ranges! Yesterday was a great day to get into the mountains; calm winds, warm temperatures and powder greeted all who ventured out. Today, that’s going to change. There is a medley of conditions out in the La Sals; zipper crusts on South thru West aspects, wind slabs near ridges above treeline, settled powder in the trees and cross-loading up high.

The road to the Geyser Pass Trailhead is in great shape, remember that the Grand County Road Department doesn’t plow on weekends, so be prepared and bring your 4WD and chains this weekend.

Current Conditions: (click location for latest data)

Geyser Pass Trailhead (9,600’): 39” at the SNOTEL, 49” at the stake, it is 34 degrees at the TH at 6:00 am.

Pre-Laurel Peak (11,700’): We went up to fix the station (and did), soon it will be giving us readouts.

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

Mountain Weather: (At 10,500’)

A WINTER STORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE LA SAL AND ABAJO MOUNTAINS, starting at noon Today and extending through Saturday. Snow will be heavy at times with 1’-2’ possible.

Friday: Snow likely. Mainly after noon. Cloudy with a high near 35. Winds will be out of the South at 15 mph, gusting to 30. Chance of precipitation is 70%. 1”-2” expected.
Friday night: Snow likely. Cloudy with a low near 19. Winds will be out of the Southwest at 15 mph, gusting to 30. Chance of precipitation is 70%. 4”-8” expected.

Saturday: Snow likely. Cloudy, high near 30. Winds will be out of the West at 15 mph, gusting to 25. Chance of precipitation is 70%. Another 4”-8” of snow is expected.

Avalanche Conditions:

Yesterday’s observations yielded numerous loose snow avalanches, on all aspects, on steep slopes, with a big one in Exxon’s Folly. There was a Soft Slab avalanche in Talking Mountain Cirque as well. This past storm really didn’t have much wind associated with it, and as a result there isn’t many slabs out there to fail. There are, however, some shallow wind slabs near ridges above tree line and some cross-loading in the alpine as well. I am going to rate the avalanche danger for Friday morning at MODERATE on steep, wind loaded slopes greater than 35 degrees, at or above tree line. Expect this avalanche danger to rise throughout the day Friday and into Saturday where the avalanche danger could raise to CONSIDERABLE, possibly HIGH. This all depends on how much snow we receive, and the speed and duration of the wind speed during and just after the storm. Be prepared for some adverse weather conditions!

Nordic and Skate Skiing:

There is a great Nordic Track going all the way to Gold Basin and Geyser Pass. To all of you skate skiers out there, best of luck.