Introduction: Good Morning this
is Dave Medara 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 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:
It looks like 5” of desperately
needed snow has fallen this morning at the Geyser pass trailhead. We are
finally getting clipped by some of these storms that have been drenching the
rest of the western US. It looks like even more snow is on the way. Ground cover is still thin so be careful out
there if you are out touring today off roads and trails.
The road to the Geyser Pass Trailhead
will be a 4WD affair this morning. I have not been up yet, but with last night’s
winds, expect the road to be drifted and make sure you’ve got a shovel
and are ready to use it.
Current Conditions: (click location for latest data)
Geyser
Pass Trailhead (9,600’): 15”
at the SNOTEL. 20” at the GPTH
Snowstake, 5” in last night. 24 degrees at the
Pre-Laurel Peak
Weather Station (11,705’): Still Struggling
with the weather station. Had contact, lost contact. The drama continues with
new hardware.
Mountain Weather: (At 10,500’)
NewYear's Day: Occasional snow, mainly before
Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 19. West northwest wind 10 to
15 mph becoming south southwest.
Monday: A 50 percent chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 32.
Windy, with a south southwest wind 15 to 20 mph increasing to between 25 and 30
mph. Winds could gust as high as 40 mph. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches
possible.
Avalanche Conditions: (Link to the
International Avalanche Danger Scale here)”
New snow on top of old weak snow is the
scenario that the mountain traveler will be faced with here in the La Sal Mountains
this morning. 5 inches at the trailhead will probably mean more snow up high. COmbinesd
with last night’s high winds we are looking at a recipe for substantial
avalanche releases for the next 48 hours. Expect to find a HIGH avalanche
danger of human triggered avalanches on E-N-NW facing slopes steeper than 35
degrees above treeline or in wind affected areas. Expect to find a CONSIDERABLE hazard elsewhere. Choose your ski
slopes conservatively today. Avoid areas of wind deposition that make a hollow
or “drumming” sounds. Finally, remember that the coverage is still
very thin and the new snow can hide booby traps. Be careful out there!