Introduction: Good
morning, this is Dave Medara with the USFS Manti-La Sal Avalanche Center with
your avalanche and mountain weather advisory.
Today is Sunday, January 28th at 7:30 am. 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. We’ve re-scheduled our Level I
American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education Course for March 2-4
here in Moab. Cost will be 130$. SMOKIN’ deal. Give us a call at
435-636-3363 to sign up or get more info. |
General Conditions: Not much new to report. Variable
conditions still prevail, with all conditions represented from rock hard wind
slabs to rotten cohesion less facets from the surface of the snow to the
ground. There is a little re-cycled powder available for turning in some
well-selected locations but in many areas, even at elevation, there is barely
enough snow to ski. Lot’s of ground hazard for skiers and snow machine
riders. Avalanches still being reported from the San Juan Mountains
(snowmobile released) which means they are still possible here. We are
currently at 63% of normal snowfall for the season with no major snowfall in
sight. There is a chance of starting Tuesday The road to the Geyser Pass Trailhead
is plowed. The groomers were up on Friday so
skate skiing and classic cross-country skiing are good at the moment. Mountain Weather: (At 10,500’)
|
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) |
20” |
|
18 |
warming |
Geyser Pass |
37” |
|
n/a |
facets |
Gold Basin and South Mountain |
35” |
|
n/a |
Need more snow! |
N/a |
N/a |
No update |
No update |
Avalanche Conditions: (Link to the
International Avalanche Danger Scale here)
– Not much change occurring
in the La Sals right now. The major player right now will be the Northerly
winds we’ve had of late gusting up to 70 mph the day before yesterday.
A little snow available for transport means that slabs could be built up in
downwind areas at and above treeline where the wind has been able to do most
of its work. Many of the southerly facing slopes don’t have enough snow
to travel on or produce an avalanche. Cross loaded slopes on East and West
facing aspects are likely to be the trouble spots for avalanches out there.
We are calling the avalanche hazard MODERATE in the La
Sal and Abajo Mountains at this time, meaning that human triggered avalanche
are still possible. We are even getting down to the lower end of that rating.
The next weather producer, if we get any major snow, will likely result in a
dramatic avalanche cycle as the snow on the ground continues to deteriorate.
We’ll update this message Sunday morning, thanks for calling. |