Introduction: Good
morning! This is Max Forgensi
with the
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 3RD-5TH (FRI-SUN), WHILE
OUR LEVEL 2 IS MARCH 3RD-6TH (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
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:
Precipitation is pushing in from the west and it appears that today and
Monday might be our best bet for precipitation before a high pressure system
develops over the region before the Christmas weekend. 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’): 5.2”
at the SNOTEL. 22
degrees at the trailhead at
Gold Basin and South Mountain:
20” of settled snow on the ground.
Mountain Weather: (At 10,500’)
Today: Areas of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high around 26.
Breezy, with a west southwest wind between 10 and 20 mph, with gusts as high as
30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Tonight: A 50 percent chance of snow. Mostly cloudy,
with a low around 21. West southwest wind between 10
and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. New snow accumulation of less
than one inch possible.
Monday: A 40 percent chance of snow. Mostly cloudy,
with a high around 29. West northwest wind between 10
and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Avalanche Conditions: (Link to the
International Avalanche Danger Scale here)
They say people can create a collective consciousness
to change anything in this world. Anyone
who hasn’t burned a ski or washed your car or haven’t stayed up
watching old ski movies should do so in short order. Our best chance for precipitation is today
and Monday…lets hope for the best!
As I have been saying for too long, North aspects at and just below
tree-line is where you will find our weakest snowpack. Observers have pointed out that there is a
8-10” slab sitting on some of this 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.