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, December 17th at 8:00 a.m. This advisory will expire in 24 hours.

WE ARE STARTING TO FILL UP OUR AIARE LEVEL 1 AND LEVEL 2 CLASSES BEING HELD IN THE LA SALS THIS YEAR. THE LEVEL 1 IS FEBRUARY 3^RD-5^TH (FRI-SUN), WHILE OUR LEVEL 2 IS MARCH 3^RD-6^TH (FRI-MON). CALL (435) 636-3363 FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO SIGN UP. EACH CLASS IS LIMITED TO 12 STUDENTS. TUITION GOES DIRECTLY TOWARDS THE FRIENDS OF THE MANTI-LA SAL AVALANCHE CENTER.

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:

An upper level low centered over the Great Lakes is trying to spread some of its moisture our way, although it has stalled out over Wyoming currently and has set up for a Northwest flow that will favor the Northern mountains of Colorado. We might see a couple of flakes flying through the air, but not enough for any significant accumulation. It appears to be another good day to do some ice skating, although there is enough snow to get up and do some Skate/Nordic Skiing. Backcountry skiing is currently limited to only a couple of select spots up in the La Sals. Plenty of ground hazards exist to trip you up, so be careful! The Grand County Road Department did plow the road, although it is still icy and snow packed in spots. 4WD and chains are recommended.

Current Conditions: (click location for latest data)

Geyser Pass Trailhead (9,600’): 5.7” at the SNOTEL. 17 degrees at the trailhead at 7:00 a.m.

Gold Basin and South Mountain: 20” of settled snow on the ground.

Pre-Laurel Peak Weather Station (11,705’): Yesterday was an exciting day for the Weather Station. We have all the equipment in place and we made CONTACT! There are a few bugs to be worked out before we have a reliable link. Baby steps on this one!

Mountain Weather: (At 10,500’)

Today: A 20 percent chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high around 25. West southwest wind between 10 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Tonight: A 20 percent chance of snow. Partly cloudy, with a low around 3. Wind chill values between -10 and zero. Southwest wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Sunday: Mostly cloudy, with a high around 25. Wind chill values between -10 and zero. Southwest wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Avalanche Conditions: (Link to the International Avalanche Danger Scale here)

Rain, snow, a heat wave…all I want is a change up in the La Sals for Christmas. What is happening up in the La Sals is that the snow pack is shallow, weak and I haven’t seen a bit of strengthening except on Southerly aspects…unfortunately there isn’t much snow on these aspects in the first place. But lets get psyched up for winter time. Its still Autumn, and a good time as anytime to break your legs into a good high-altitude cardiovascular workout and hone in your transitions. If you are going up to enjoy winter conditions in the desert, there are some areas that you want to look out for. North aspects at and just below tree-line is where you will find our weakest snowpack. You will find amazing amounts of sugar snow; i.e. depth hoar, facets…which in turn has no strength and can avalanche to the ground if an unsuspecting backcountry skier places his turn or ski cut the wrong (or right) place to initiate this failure. Any avalanches will use trees, rocks, logs and humans to connect the dots and make a crown line. The BOTTOM LINE in these areas is going to be MODERATE. The rest of the range is going to have a hazard rating of LOW.