Moderate Hazard of Avalanches in the La Sal Mountains at this time. Hazard primarily limited to above treeline slopes due to limited snow cover. Wind slabs on all aspects in shallow pockets and gullies due to variable high speed winds.

Excellent conditions for Rock Climbing, Biking and other non-snow related activities continue in SE Utah. Conditions not so favorable for skiing at the moment. Snow outlook is for a good storm this weekend.

Good Morning this is Dave Medara with the La Sal Avalanche Center. It's Friday December 12th at 11 AM. Not much to report since the last advisory, winds have been behaving, snow has been settling, melting and re-crystallizing in the La Sals. Hope you got out  to play this week and hopefully it wasn't in the La Sal Backcountry. If you venture off the roads and trails, the ski conditions are extremely poor at the moment. The good news is, if the forecasts prove to be correct, that we have a significant amount of snow on the way. More details on that in the weather section. 

We Picked up 5" of new snow last Monday and have a total of 17.5" in Gold Basin. This puts us at about 64% of normal snowpack for the season.   Our snowpack is shallow and rotten, as usual for this time of year. Click here to check out the fine La Sal Facets we had growing before this last storm: www.avalanche.org/~lsafc/aviphotos/LaSalPhotos08-09/11-08-08,%20Horse%20Creek,%20Craig%20Bigler.jpg

San Juan County was up on Thursday to clear the roads and they are in great shape right now. 

The Grooming program starts tomorrow so time to wax the skis.

Class 1 activity in Tukno Ne slide path and in Talking Mountain Cirque noted on Tuesday's tour.

La Sal Mountain Weather for 10,000 ft:

Today: A 20 percent chance of snow after 11am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 38. East wind around 5 mph becoming west.

Tonight: A 40 percent chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 23. South wind 5 to 15 mph becoming east.

Saturday: Snow likely and areas of blowing snow, mainly after 11am. Cloudy, with a high near 35. Breezy, with a south wind between 15 and 25 mph, with gusts as high as 45 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible.

Saturday Night: Snow and areas of blowing snow. Low around 8. Breezy, with a west wind between 15 and 20 mph, with gusts as high as 45 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 10 to 14 inches possible.

Sunday: Snow likely. Cloudy, with a high near 16. West wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Sunday Night: A 50 percent chance of snow. Cloudy, with a low around 4.

Monday: Snow likely. Cloudy, with a high near 16. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Monday Night: Snow likely. Cloudy, with a low around 9.

Tuesday: Snow likely. Cloudy, with a high near 23.

Tuesday Night: Snow likely. Cloudy, with a low around 10.

The Grooming Program will start on Saturday the 13th (conditions permitting) and The Lower Utah Nordic Alliance (LUNA) is looking for volunteers to help with grooming this winter. Contact Kiersten at 260-0042 if you're interested.

Our yearly AIARE level I avalanche course will be held this year from Friday, January 30th - Sunday February 1st. Proceeds from this class go directly to the Friends of La Sal Avalanche Center and help pay for the forecasting and education services provided by the Center. Please call Dave or Max 435-636-3363 to sign up for the class or get more information.

We will also be teaching some Avalanche Awareness seminars  this winter. The first is scheduled for Monday, January 12th at 6:00 PM. These FREE seminars run about 2 hours and cover avalanche phenomena, basic travel techniques and self-rescue equipment overviews. They are a good opportunity to learn about the hazards of winter travel that winter recreationists face when traveling in the backcountry. Suitable for skiers, hikers, snow machiners, hunters and snowboarders.