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 Saturday, February 12th,
2005 at 7:30 am. This bulletin is
sponsored in part by Canyon Voyages,
Moabs 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 Sunday.
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 snow started to fly at the Geyser Pass Trailhead last night
after the temperatures finally dipped below freezing. At 6:00 am this morning, there is 3 of wet snow at the trailhead
with more snow on the ground the higher you go. The Abajo Mountains received 11 out of the storm so far and
there is 74 at the Camp Jackson SNOTEL site.
All of those surface conditions that we had the past couple of days are
now buried under some pretty wet snow (comparatively). If you like being out in it, today is going
to be a great day to get up there and ski where you have some contrast and
visibility, a.k.a. the trees.
The road to the Geyser Pass Trailhead is not plowed, remember that
the Grand County Road Department doesnt plow on weekends, so be prepared and
bring your 4WD and chains today and expect snowy roads.
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 WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR THE LA
SAL AND ABAJO MOUNTAINS, til Saturday night at midnight. Snow will be heavy at times.
Saturday: Periods of snow. High near 31 degrees. Winds will be out of the West at 10-15
mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. 4-8 inches expected.
Saturday night: Snow likely
before midnight. Mostly cloudy with a
low temperature near 18 degrees. Wind
will be out of the Northwest at 10-15 mph.
Chance of precipitation is 60%.
3-5 inches expected.
Sunday: Partly cloudy.
High near 33. Winds will be out
of the Northwest at 5-10 mph.
Avalanche Conditions:
Lots of snow, some moderate wind speeds and compromised visibility
will greet anyone who travels out into the backcountry today, either in the La
Sal or Abajo Mountains. This storm came
in quite warm and has yet to cool down, meaning there is some heavy snow up in
the La Sal and Abajo Mountain ranges.
Although warm snow usually bonds to the old snow surface better than
cold snow, what is it bonding to? Less
cohesive snow? Thin wind slabs? Is this new snow creating the final piece of
avalanche formation, a slab?
The Bottom line is:
Abajo Mountains: An
avalanche danger of CONSIDERABLE on
all aspects and elevations, on steep slopes greater than 35 degrees! 11 of heavy new snow in the past 24 hours
(and still falling) is a lot of new stress to add to the snow.
La Sal Mountains: An
avalanche danger of MODERATE on
slopes below treeline. An avalanche
danger of CONSIDERABLE at or above
tree line on steep, wind effected slopes.
General guidelines for today is to keep out of the run-out zones
of avalanche paths. Give yourself some
visibility and stick to the trees today.
Let Mother Nature play with the steep stuff for now.
Nordic and Skate Skiing:
Another
day of trail breaking is on tap for everyone.