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 |
General Conditions: Powder conditions will be the
condition de Jour, at least until we get warming on the sunny slopes, where
things will cook down and get moving quickly. PLEASE read or listen on to
avalanche conditions below. We’ve got a lot to say. The road to the Geyser Pass Trailhead
will be snowy and 4wd is recommended today. Forget about groomed trails until the
groomers get up there on Monday. Mountain Weather: (At 10,500’) Today...Partly sunny. Highs in the 30s.
South winds 10 to 15 mph with gusts to around 30 mph. |
Weather Station/ Location |
Snow Depth (HS): in./cm |
New Snow (HN) in./cm |
|
Current Observations:
Wind, 48 hour snow |
Geyser
Pass Trailhead (9,600’): (snotel link) |
32.5” |
11” |
20 |
Powder |
|
55” |
11” |
N/a |
Facets, powder |
|
55” |
11” |
n/a |
Facets, Powder |
N/a |
N/a |
13 |
18mph SSW, Gust
46. Large Plumes |
Avalanche Conditions: (Link to the
International Avalanche Danger Scale here)
– The snow has finally
come. With 11” of new snow and .8” of new water weight added the
snowpack Critical values of formation of widespread avalanching have been
reached. This alone warrants an Avalanche Danger rating of HIGH
on all slopes steeper than 30 Degrees in the La Sal Mountains. It seems that
the La Sals finally picked up the high snow total and we’ve gotten more
than the San Juans to our east or the Abajos to the south. This new snow has
fallen onto and extremely weak under lying snowpack, which is typical for our
area of the southwest. Avalanches are possible with the new snow, especially
on North facing slopes as our winds have shifted to southerly in advance of
the next storm system. Warming today will be another factor. It has been
cold, and when the sun comes out after a storm cycle, stretching of slabs and
weakening of old/new snow bonds can occur resulting in another possible avalanche
trigger. There have been four
avalanche fatalities in the State of |