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. |
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General Conditions: Another inch and a half of snow was delivered
to the peaks of the La Sals yesterday with a few snow squalls yesterday
afternoon. Mixed reports of skiing quality are being reported all with a
common theme: there is still some very rotten snow out there, especially in
the lower snowpack from about 9000 – 10000 feet. There is still some
good sliding and riding conditions out there, But you will have to go to
upper elevations to find consistent dry snow with the warming temperatures we
are experiencing. We did have a good freeze last night and I expect the corn
skiing will be getting ripe for harvest soon if not already. The road to the Geyser Pass Trailhead
will be snowy and 4wd is recommended today. GC roads should get up there
sometime today. This morning you can expect
“powder skating” or classic skiing with yesterday afternoon’s
1-2” of new snow on the groomed trails, although L.U.N.A. volunteers
are scheduled to go up today so conditions could be prime for an afternoon
session. Mountain Weather: (At 10,500’) Today:
Partly cloudy,
with a high near 42. Calm wind becoming southwest between 10 and 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) |
36” |
1.5” |
26.8 |
Heavy new snow over variable conditions |
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58” |
1.5 |
N/a |
Facets, powder |
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57” |
1.5 |
n/a |
Facets, Powder |
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N/a |
N/a |
20.4 |
Light WNW winds |
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Avalanche Conditions: (Link to the
International Avalanche Danger Scale here)
– The change over to spring
is happening in the La Sal mountains these days and the variability of the
snow pack reflects this. We have spring conditions on sunny slopes but are maintaining
dry snow and winter conditions on shady NE-NW facing upper elevation slopes.
This increases our possibilities for good turns, but also increases the
number of situations we need to be aware of as we travel in the backcountry. The
upper elevation snowpack is stabilizing and gaining strength with the warming
temperatures. The mid elevation snowpack is gaining strength in the top of
the snowpack but is still VERY rotten in the mid and base layers of the snowpack.
The lower elevation snowpack is getting isothermal (meaning 0 degrees Celsius
through the entire depth, slushy and weak) and is very uncohesive and
unstable. In addition to these factors, we also have to think about daytime
warming as it will de-stabilize frozen sunny slopes throughout the course of
any given sunny day. Today we are calling the avalanche
danger MODERATE with pockets of CONSIDERABLE
AT MID ELEVATIONS WHERE THE SNOW SEEMS TO BE WEAKEST. There are still some buried
weak layers out there with the potential for skier or rider triggered avalanches
on Mid to Upper elevation East through NW facing slopes. Additionally, there are
potential wet loose and wet slab avalanches on sunny side slopes after daytime
warming has heated up the snowpack. If you’re sinking into wet snow this
afternoon (or earlier), it’s probably timer to get off the steeps and onto
gentler slopes. Also as I mentioned stay off steep slopes at lower elevations
where there was no freeze the night before. We will update this message
tomorrow morning, thanks for calling. |