US
Forest Service
Manti-La Sal National
Forest
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Introduction: Good morning, this is Max
Forgensi with the WE HAVE ONE SPOT LEFT IN OUR AIARE LEVEL 2 CLASS
WHICH BEGINS TODAY AT 5:00 PM.
COME AND JOIN THE FUN!
FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO SIGN UP FOR THIS SPOT CALL US AT (435)
636-3363. 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! You can also report observations at
435-636-3363 |
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General Conditions: It
has been really windy up in the La Sal Mountains for the past 18 hours and
getting stronger. The winds have
been coming from a very rare direction in this duration, from the SSE and
averaging in the mid-twenties. Temperatures
have been warm at the Geyser Pass Trailhead as well. Last night stayed above
freezing. A little to early for
that to be happening if you ask me.
As a result, skiing conditions will be like your Mother’s meat
casserole-you won’t know what is in the next bite until you try some or look
real carefully. I would ski
conservatively and be careful once again of ground hazards. We are only at 71% water equivalent
for the La Sal Mountains so far this year.
The road to the Geyser Pass trailhead has been graded down low and
plowed up high making for some great driving conditions. The Nordic and Skate skiing
conditions up to Geyser Pass and into Gold Basin will be wonderful
today. Mountain Weather: (At 10,500’) Today: Partly cloudy, with a high near 43. Breezy, with a south wind between
15 and 25 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph. |
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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’): (snotel link) |
26” |
0 |
34 |
~ |
|
Geyser Pass |
138 cm |
0 |
N/a |
Deepest place these days |
|
|
42”/105cm |
0 |
n/a |
|
|
N/a |
N/a |
19 |
South-Southeast
@ 28 gusts to 59 |
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Avalanche Conditions: (Link to the
International Avalanche Danger Scale here) Today we are going to look at two major
factors related to avalanches.
On south and west aspects, crusts near the surface have been forming
faceted crystals below them.
With the new snow on top of the crusts, this layering is failing
easily with the pressure of a skier, and fast. These thin sun-crusts could support you in places and fail
in others. It is not likely for
a natural avalanche to occur on these aspects. On the other side of the avalanche rose and onto your
North and East aspects, it appears that this warm weather has helped
stabilize the upper part of the snow pack. Unfortunately, the lower half of the snow pack is still a
cold faceted mess. In places
that have yet to “flush” out these depth hoar crystals, these slopes are
still suspect for large climax avalanches that no-one would like to take a
ride in. Because both these
areas are not very widespread, the BOTTOM
LINE for today will be an avalanche danger of MODERATE on steep
North-East aspects with the classic slab/weak layer (depth hoar)/bed surface
(ground) with no anchors and pronounced trigger points. Be careful on those South-West
aspects where crust sandwiches are lying about as well. We need your observations! Call
435-636-3363 or use the link near the top of the page to get to the observers
page! Yes, DO IT! Take a look at a snow pit from our
tour on 01/15/06 here.
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