US Forest Service Manti-La Sal National Forest

Introduction:  Good morning!  This is Dave Medara with the USFS Manti-La Sal Avalanche Center with your avalanche and mountain weather advisory.  Today is Tuesday, December 20th 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 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 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:

            Finally a change in the La Sals!  Dave Medara is back in action starting today as an avalanche forecaster for the Manti-La Sal Avalanche Center.  We also received a paltry 1” of snow on Sunday evening.   The skate-skiing and Nordic skiing conditions are phenomenal up to Geyser Pass and Gold Basin currently.  Unfortunately, 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 hasn’t been up to plow the inch so the road 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’):  5.5” at the SNOTEL.  27.1 degrees at the trailhead at 7:00 a.m. 

Gold Basin and South Mountain:  21” of settled snow on the ground. 

Pre-Laurel Peak Weather Station (11,705’):  Friday 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 before noon. Partly cloudy, with a high near 32. North northwest wind between 5 and 10 mph.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 23. North northeast wind between 5 and 10 mph.
Wednesday: Partly cloudy, with a high around 37. North northeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southeast.

 

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.