Introduction: Good morning, this is Max
Forgensi 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. |
General Conditions:
14” of snow has fallen at the Geyser Pass Trailhead since last
Sunday while 24” of snow has fallen in Gold Basin. Cold temperatures have kept the powder pristine and today
is going to be a blue-sky powder day!
It is going to be cold
today and tonight before a dramatic warm-up on Sunday. Tomorrow the snow is going to start
to change due to the sun, go up and enjoy it while the powder lasts! Reports yesterday were of
supportable, creamy turns on westerly aspects while in some of your favorite
sheltered North runs…the snow is still a bit punchy and unsupportable in
spots. Better bring the big
boards to float.
L.U.N.A.
was up on Thursday and groomed the entire track. And the Grand County Road Department did a great job
plowing the road. Mountain Weather: (At 10,500’) Today:
Mostly sunny, with
a high near 25. North northeast wind between 10 and 15 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) |
39” |
trace |
2.5 |
Powder: 14” in past 7 days |
|
55” |
trace |
N/a |
~ |
|
55” |
trace |
n/a |
Powder |
N/a |
N/a |
-3.6 |
NNE winds at 5
mph, gusts to 18 |
Avalanche Conditions: (Link to the
International Avalanche Danger Scale here)
– Yesterday was another
poor day for observing avalanches & today is going to be much
better. What I did see yesterday
was a lot of slopes below tree-line that were loaded and no avalanche
activity. This is a scary time
in the backcountry. Mother
Nature is not showing her cards and I am not calling her bluff. The cards we hold are not good
enough. Plenty of snow and
strong winds have made for soft slabs on leeward sides of slopes and
ridges. We know that this new
load is overlaying a weak mid to lower snow pack. As a result the BOTTOM LINE for today is going to be an avalanche danger of CONSIDERABLE
on any steep slope greater than 35 degrees on NW-N-NE-E-SE slopes. It would be wise to put a ski cut in
before committing to your line and realize that danger is not always at the
top. |