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 Saturday, January 6th, 2007 at 8:30 a.m. This advisory will expire in 24 hours.

 

CHECK OUT OUR NEW GROOMING EQUIPMENT HERE.

 

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.

Please give us your observations from the field HERE.  The more observations we get, the better this forecast can be. 

  

General Conditions:

       2”-6” fell on the La Sal Mountains on Thursday night and into early Friday Morning, freshening up conditions a bit.  Go up and enjoy the conditions today and tomorrow…this appears to be the only shot of snow we have in our foreseeable future.  Get it while its fresh.  The La Sals are hampered by a thin snow pack, we are at 76% of our normal snow water equivalent.  There are some places to make decent turns, just watch out for ground hazards. 

        L.U.N.A. went up grooming yesterday afternoon and will be up again today to finish the loop on the east side of Geyser Pass.  Extra blue (or colder wax) for all of you classic Nordic skiers. 

        The road to the Geyser Pass Trailhead has been plowed, although as always, 4WD is recommended.    

 

Mountain Weather: (At 10,500’) –

Today: Partly cloudy, with a high near 28. Calm wind becoming west between 5 and 10 mph.
Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 9. West wind between 10 and 15 mph.
Sunday: Partly cloudy, with a high near 29. West wind between 5 and 15 mph.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 10. West northwest wind between 5 and 10 mph.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

Weather Station/ Location

Snow Depth (HS):  in./cm

New Snow (HN) in./cm

7:00 a.m. Temp (F)

Current Observations:  Wind, 48 hour snow

Geyser Pass Trailhead (9,600’): (snotel link)

Wx down

0

Wx down

~

Geyser Pass

24”

0

N/a 

6” of fluff reported yesterday

Gold Basin and South Mountain

24”

0

n/a

Thin, below normal coverage

Pre-Laurel Peak Station (11,705’)

N/a 

N/a 

9

North winds 13 mph gust to 28

 

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

 

  We are currently calling the Avalanche danger MODERATE, meaning that human triggered avalanches are possible.  Today is going to be a good day for a field day.  Weak snow pack structures still exist on North-East aspects and the winds transported available snow to South-Southwest aspects for 10 hours yesterday.  Expect wind slabs of up to 1’ to exist near ridgelines in the La Sals.  Check back tomorrow for more detailed information.