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 TO 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. MLAC NEWS: We have started an observer page for
folks to send us their backcountry observations. Report what you see in your
backcountry travels HERE.
Please send us your reports on avalanches, ski conditions, road conditions,
snow pit profiles etc. Thanks! |
General Conditions: Welcome to
winter Mountain Weather: (At
10,500’) M.L.King
Day: Areas of snow
before |
Weather Station/ Location |
Snow Depth (HS): in./cm |
New Snow (HN) in./cm |
|
Current Observations:
Wind, 48 hour snow |
24+” |
12” |
11 |
12” |
|
|
N/a |
12+” |
N/a |
N/a |
|
32+” |
12+” |
N/a |
12+” |
|
N/a |
N/a |
-1 |
North-northeast
16-30 mph |
Avalanche Conditions: (Link to the
International Avalanche Danger Scale here) The
La Sal mountain range has three major factors that are increasing the
avalanche danger. #1: A very weak snowpack. Observations yesterday showed weak moderate
shears on Northerly aspects below treeline.
This snow pack structure will not be able to take a large new stress. #2 12” plus of snow is a very large
new stress especially when compounding it with #3 strong winds predominantly
out of the NNE for the past 7 hours.
What does this mean? Avalanche
will be occurring naturally and could be likely triggered by a skier or snowmobiler. By
yesterday evening, the La Sals had received 0.5” of water weight with
an additional 0.2” of H20 weight last night for a total of 0.7”. That’s a big load to be sitting on
top of such a weak snow pack. The BOTTOM
LINE for today is going to be an avalanche danger of HIGH on steep wind loaded slopes at all
elevations on NW-N-NE-E slopes. The
rest of the range will be MODERATE. South and
westerly aspects had little to no snow on them before this event. Today will be a great day to observe
avalanches from a distance and ski conservatively. See you up there. To view the snowpit observation
from yesterday, click this link. |