Introduction:  Good morning, this is Max Forgensi with the USFS Manti-La Sal Avalanche Center with your avalanche and mountain weather advisory.  Today is Wednesday, February 21st, at 8:30 AM. This advisory will expire in 24 hours. 

 

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:

Yesterday was an incredible day to get into the backcountry.  No winds, warm temperatures and great coverage made for a great tour.  By 13:00, the sun was so intense on West aspects that the 6” of fresh powder was already changing.  Skins were glopping up on the way out.  You will definitely find some great turns on North through East aspects where the sun has yet to rear its rays while on West through South aspects the time to get it was yesterday…there might be a chance to farm some powder in the upper reaches of these aspects.    

L.U.N.A. was up Monday.  I groomed the meadow loop for all the skate skiers on Tuesday.    Mark your calendars for the Lasaloppet on March 24th!

The Grand County Road Department plowed the road yesterday and its in great shape although 4WD is recommended. 

  

Mountain Weather: (At 10,500’)

Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 35. Southwest wind between 5 and 10 mph.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 23. South southwest wind between 10 and 15 mph.
Thursday: Partly cloudy, with a high near 40. Breezy, with a south southwest wind between 15 and 20 mph.
Thursday Night: Increasing clouds, with a low around 18. Windy, with a south southwest wind between 20 and 30 mph, with gusts as high as 45 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’): (snotel link)

25.4”

0”

25.2

6” of fresh Mon night!

Geyser Pass

46”/115

0

N/a 

Powder!

Gold Basin and South Mountain

46”/115

0

n/a

Great skiing conditions

Pre-Laurel Peak Station (11,705’)

N/a 

N/a 

19

Winds out of the W at 14 gusts to 26

 

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

The La Sal Mountain’s were eerily quiet yesterday when it came to avalanche activity.  There was one tiny failure in Exxon’s Folly…that’s it.  You could tell that all of the alpine bowls were wind-loaded, but not loaded enough.  There are plenty of weaknesses within the snow pack.  Telluride had numerous avalanches fail on old snow surfaces yesterday & quite big.  What we are waiting for is a trigger:  new snow, more wind loading (or a combination of the two) or a HUMAN TRIGGER.  For the next two days, human triggered avalanches will be possible, while natural avalanches will be unlikely.  The BOTTOM LINE for today will be an AVALANCE DANGER of MODERATE.   Be extra careful on at & above tree-line N-NE-E aspects where trigger points and bad consequences exist.  In the afternoon, the warm weather will promote wet loose point releases on West through South aspects.