US Forest Service Manti-La Sal National
Forest
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Introduction: Good
morning, this is Dave Medara with the 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 |
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General Conditions: Over nine inches of new snow have
fallen this week greatly improving conditions for snow machines and skiing in
the La Sal mountains. The best skiing of the year is being reported in some
areas, but reports of poor cover and our own “punchy” experience
in the North woods bring home the point that the coverage is not what we need
for good skiing yet. It is still very low snow coverage out there and I feel
compelled to warn people about the hazards of skiing in the forest right now.
Don’t get skewered! Enjoy the powder, but tread lightly. We are
currently at 64% of normal snowpack right now with no major storms in sight. Winds are now the big player in the
avalanche realm so read on. The road to the Geyser Pass Trailhead
is plowed. The groomers were up on Friday skate skiing
and classic cross-country skiing are groomed into Mountain Weather: (At 10,500’) Today...Mostly sunny. Highs 10 to 20.
Northwest winds 10 to 15 mph. |
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Weather Station/ Location |
Snow Depth (HS): in./cm |
New Snow (HN) in./cm |
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Current Observations:
Wind, 48 hour snow |
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Geyser
Pass Trailhead (9,600’): (snotel link) |
23”” |
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22.3 |
warming |
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38” |
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N/a |
Facets, powder |
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36” |
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n/a |
Powder, Poor Coverage |
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N/a |
N/a |
15.3 |
21 mph from NNW
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Avalanche Conditions: (Link to the
International Avalanche Danger Scale here)
– With the storm gone and
lots of new, low-density snow available for transport, the major factor in
the avalanche equation right now is the wind. Winds have been in the
bulls-eye range of 15-30 mph above treeline for the last three days. Reports of
Soft slabs building up above treeline are coming in from the San Juans with
some skier releases and natural avalanches. We are calling the avalanche
danger in the La Sal and Abajo mountains CONSIDERABLE above treeline, meaning that
human triggered avalanches are likely. With our wind directions primarily
from the NW, Trouble spots will likely be wind loaded areas on NE – E
– SE and SW facing slopes. Below treeline, where there is much less of
a slab developing, we are calling the avalanche danger MODERATE,
but be on the lookout for wind loaded pockets and never trust our nasty snowpack.
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