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, May 4th,
2005 at 9:00 am. This advisory is
sponsored by the Friends of the Manti-La Sal Avalanche Center.
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:
Where in the world are we? It is tough to imagine that the snow
conditions can be so excellent in the Red Rock Desert in May. It is time to wake up and enjoy some of the
finest spring skiing the La Sal Mountain has had in years. Clouds and cold temperatures have held their
grasp in the high country, and for the next few days you’ll be more apt to find
powder conditions than corn skiing.
This could change at a moments notice though. If you are heading up to ski, be prepared for any type of snow
condition/temperature regime.
Current Conditions: (click location for latest data)
Geyser
Pass Trailhead (9,600’): 28” at the
SNOTEL, last night the temperatures stayed above freezing.
Pre-Laurel
Peak (11,700’): The Friends of the
Manti-La Sal Avalanche Center has purchased a new radio system, this summer it
will be installed and ready for the 2005/2006 season.
Gold Basin and South Mountain (10,000’): 80” of settled snow on the ground.
Mountain Weather: (At 10,500’)
There is a chance
of snow every day through Saturday, May 7th in the High
Country. High temperatures will reach
into the high 40’s to low 50’s every day.
Low temperatures will dip below freezing every night. Thunderstorm activity during the early
afternoon may result in significant snowfall amounts and intensities.
Avalanche Conditions:
Cold winter snow will be found in the high
elevations. There is a solid layer
below this new snow on South through West aspects, while on Northern aspects it
seems more like winter than spring. Be
weary of cross-loaded slopes and large wind deposits of snow in the upper
reaches of the mountains.
In the very near future, corn skiing will become the norm
up in the La Sals. 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!