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 Monday, January 30th, 2006 at 8:30 am. This advisory will expire in 24 hours.

 

WE HAVE ONE OPENING LEFT IN OUR AIARE LEVEL 1 COURSE ON FEBRUARY 3RD-5TH.  WE HAVE 4 OPENINGS FOR OUR LEVEL 2 WHICH WILL BE MARCH 3RD-6TH.  PLEASE CALL (435) 636-3363 FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO SIGN UP. 

 

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.

 

 Hey backcountry users!  Click HERE to give us your observations…ANY OBSERVATIONS!   We have only received ONE observation from backcountry users in the La Sals, while up on the Skyline we get a couple every week…shape up!  

  

General Conditions:

          We have received 12”-18” of snow in the La Sal mountains in the past seven days improving the backcountry conditions and increasing the avalanche danger.  Skiing has improved in the forest, although you still might find a tiger trap or some ground hazards.  Overall, the skiing has definitely improved.  The road to Geyser Pass Trailhead has yet to be plowed from this weekend’s snow, you can expect the plows to reach the parking lot by about noon.  Until then, 4WD and chains could help your chance of success reaching the trailhead. 

 

Mountain Weather: (At 10,500’)

         Today: Mostly cloudy, with a high around 36. West wind between 5 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.
         Tonight: A 50 percent chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 20. Breezy, with a west southwest wind between 15 and 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.
         Tuesday: A 50 percent chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 35. North northwest wind between 10 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.
         Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low near 15. North wind 5 to 15 mph becoming southwest. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

Weather Station/ Location

Snow Depth (HS):  in./cm

New Snow (HN) in./cm

6:00 a.m. Temp (F)

Current Observations:  Wind, 48 hour snow

Geyser Pass Trailhead (9,600’):

30’’ 

0”

22

12” in the past 7 days

Geyser Pass

 N/a

n/a

N/a 

~ 

Gold Basin and South Mountain

46”/115cm 

0”

N/a 

18” in past 7 days

Pre-Laurel Peak Station (11,705’)

N/a 

N/a 

~

Weather station is down

 

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

       Observations yesterday continue to show that the snow on the ground is weak.  The La Sal’s have yet to see a large avalanche cycle.  Avalanches were observed in Colorado Bowl on a NE aspect yesterday and there was plenty of cracking to note and one large collapse in a meadow which transferred its energy into an adjacent hillside making it fail.   Our neighbors to the east, the San Juan mountains, had plenty of results with control work this past weekend with similar new snow amounts.  There were some loose snow avalanches on Tuk No observed as well.  What does this all mean?  That the critical value of new snow loads has yet to be reached in the La Sals.  When you add a backcountry skier or snowmobile, the scales might tip to failure.  Slabs were developing on leeward sides of slopes and ridges yesterday…these slabs if triggered, could have catastrophic results.  Please do not be lured out to steeper terrain by the lack of natural avalanches today, both Dave and I agree, that the snow pack structure is very weak and could fail with a human trigger.  The final road cut before you hit the Geyser Pass parking lot verified that human triggered avalanches are probable.

       The BOTTOM LINE for today will be a avalanche danger of CONSIDERABLE on steep, wind drifted slopes on NW-N-NE-E aspects.  Remote triggering an avalanche is a definite possibility…stay away from the deposition zones of avalanche paths.  The rest of the range will be MODERATE.  Have fun with all the new snow and thanks for checking in. 

 

Take a look at a snowpit from our tour on 01/15/06 here.