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, April 9th, 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.

THIS WILL BE THE LAST ADVISORY OF THE SEASON. IF CONDITIONS WARRANT, ADDITIONAL ADVISORIES WILL BE POSTED TO KEEP YOU, THE SNOW RIDER, INFORMED OF CONDITIONS IN THE BACK COUNTRY.

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:

Winter just wants to continue to hold on to the La Sal Mountains. After a week of spring-like conditions up in the mountains, another storm system is moving into the area and bringing with it the threat of more snow. Currently it has been all blow, the winds have whipped winter into most areas, 90% of the La Sal Mountains are locked in tight with breakable or supportable sun-crusts. There are a few small pockets of soft snow just below tree-line and forget about consistency. Above tree-line the winds have transported available snow into pockets of tender, shallow wind slabs. Most of the La Sal Mountains have been effected by the sun, only the upper elevations on North-East aspects are holding cold winter snow.

For the next couple of days, there will be mostly crust or dust-on-crust skiing, with a slight chance of light to moderate fluff if this storm produces. If you are looking for spring skiing conditions, I would give the mountains a few days of sun to soften conditions up.

Current Conditions: (click location for latest data)

Geyser Pass Trailhead (9,600’): 46” at the SNOTEL, last night the temperatures stayed above freezing.

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

Gold Basin and South Mountain: 90” of settled snow on the ground.

Mountain Weather: (At 10,500’)

Saturday: A 50 percent chance of snow. Some thunder is also possible. Mostly cloudy, with a high around 34. West wind between 10 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Saturday Night: Snow likely. Some thunder is also possible. Cloudy, with a low near 15. Wind chill values between -4 and 6. Windy, with a north northeast wind 15 to 20 mph increasing to between 25 and 30 mph. Winds could gust as high as 45 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of 3 to 7 inches possible.

Sunday: A 40 percent chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 28. Windy, with a north northeast wind between 20 and 30 mph, with gusts as high as 45 mph.

Avalanche Conditions:

The snow conditions are literally locked in place and spring skiing is just around the corner. As this is the last advisory for the season, tips will help you more than an Avalanche Danger rating. Although it is spring-time, the mountains at any time can produce winter-like conditions. Be prepared to have snow conditions change rapidly from one elevation to another and one aspect to another. While temperatures at the trailhead might not freeze over-night, the slopes above tree-line might still hold cold, dry snow.

If you are going out to farm some of the greatest corn-skiing on Earth (outside of Greenland), start early and end early. Use the “day-light savings time” to your advantage. The corn seems to ripen on those slopes that get the early solar radiation by 9:30-10:00. If you start to produce pin-wheels or you start to punch through the snow (signs of wet slab instability), Mother Nature is telling you to head down to the Red Rock Desert and test your skills on the rest of the sports that fill your closets and garages with tons of gear.

Enjoy your spring, and before you know it, the snow will be flying again in the fall. Take care!