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 Saturday, March 19th, 2005 at 7:30 am. This bulletin is sponsored in part by Poison Spider, Moab’s finest bike shop, 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:

With the lack of new snow, clouds and wind, you’ll be hard pressed to find a truly ‘enjoyable’ experience in the mountains today, go for more of a growing experience, to stay fit. Any exposed slope will either be frozen in place from old sun exposure or warped into a difficult skiing and riding matrix yours courtesy of the winds. The roads are in great shape, with 4WD always recommended. We may see some flakes start to fall today.

Current Conditions: (click location for latest data)

Geyser Pass Trailhead (9,600’): 39” at the SNOTEL, it is 29 degrees at the TH at 6:00 am.,

Pre-Laurel Peak (11,700’): still trying to fix it!

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

Mountain Weather: (At 10,500’)

Cloudy, windy and a few flakes for today, with more moisture tonight and tomorrow…keep your fingers crossed.

Today: Snow likely after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high around 36. Southwest wind between 10 and 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
Tonight: Snow likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 24. Breezy, with a southwest wind between 15 and 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.
Sunday: Snow likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high around 33. Windy, with a west southwest wind 25 to 30 mph decreasing to between 15 and 20 mph. Winds could gust as high as 40 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of 3 to 5 inches possible.

Avalanche Conditions:

Until we get any significant accumulations or a rapid thaw the avalanche danger will remain frozen in place, just like the snowpack. We have had sustained winds out of the S-SW-WSW over night in the 10-20mph range with higher gusts and we will see this pattern continue throughout this next storm. If you do get out and venture above or near treeline don’t be surprised by the occasional pocket of hard slabs at or just below ridges and on the sides of cross loaded gullies; on slopes steeper than 30-35 degrees you will have a limited MODERATE avalanche danger. Everywhere else in the range the avalanche danger is LOW. In these