Please note the the LSAC has changed the date of our 3-day AIARE Level 1 avalanche class from the last weekend of January to the first weekend of February. The dates are now February 5,6,7. Click here for more info.

MODERATE avalanche dangers can be found in the Mountains of SE Utah at this time. Snow coverage can best be described as "bony" as we drop below 100% of normal snowpack for the first time in a month or so. Many areas are unsupportable, crusty and just plain bad. Reports of good skiing in limited areas - mostly shady aspects near treeline - are coming in, but ground hazards are substantial especially in the N. Woods. Heads up in there and consider using your rocks skis until we get more snow.

Click here to see the newly revised North American Avalanche Danger Scale.

As our total snowpack levels dip below 100% the reality of skiing in the desert is becoming clearer. Good skiing and riding conditions are very limited at the moment. There ARE places where decent skiing and riding conditions can be found, but higher elevations, or just the right mix of coverage and aspect are required. Despite measuring 20 inches of new snow on New Years Eve Day, the snowpack in the SE Utah Mountains remains very thin. It takes a lot of 5% density snow to achieve much coverage in the long run. In the thinner snowpack areas (plenty of those) the snowpack is too rotten and sugary to support snowshoes, skis or anything else and ground hazards are severe. South and West facing slopes are crusted over by the sun and above treeline, conditions are super variable. We need more snow, and there's a chance for more Wed/Thurs and again at the beginning of next week. Right now, we have 31 inches of snow at our Gold Basin Study Plot at 10,000 ft., and only 18" at the Snotel site at 9800'

Roads are clear and passable to the trailheads. Lot's of traffic is making them slick in places. East and West accesses clear in the La Sals.

LUNA Groomers were up Friday and attended to the entire nordic trail system in the La Sal. The upper and Lower nordic loops, Geyser Pass and Gold Basin have all been groomed.

Check out more info on avalanche classification here.

Nothing recent. Collapsing and cracking seem to be quieting down significantly.

National Weather Service Forecast for 10,000 Ft. :

Tonight: Clear, with a low around 26. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph. Tuesday: Increasing clouds, with a high near 27. South wind around 5 mph. Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 19. South wind around 5 mph. Wednesday: Snow likely, mainly after 11am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 29. South southwest wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible. Wednesday Night: Snow likely. Cloudy, with a low around 19. South southwest wind 5 to 15 mph becoming west northwest. Chance of precipitation is 70%. Thursday: A 50 percent chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 26. Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 14. Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 28.

As the season gets underway, we would like to thank the hard working volunteers at the Friends of the La Sal Avalanche Center. Without their help the center would not meet it's funding or staffing requirements. Thanks all! If you would like more information about donating to the Friends or simply helping out, click here.

Local Avalanche Education:

Basic Avalanche Awareness Class - Grand County Library, January 12th - 5:30 - 8:00 PM.

LSAC Level One Avalanche Class - 3 days, February 5-7 - Call 435-636-3363 to reserve a spot or get more info.

This advisory will expire in 48 hours!