BOTTOM LINE
Danger by aspect and elevation on slopes approaching 35° or steeper.
(click HERE for tomorrow's danger rating)
|
Danger Rose Tutorial
|
The Bottom Line for today will be an avalanche danger of CONSIDERABLE on wind-loaded and cross-loaded slopes greater than 35 degrees on all aspects and elevations. A CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger means there are dangerous avalanche conditions. Expert snowpack evaluation, cautious route finding and conservative decision-making is essential.
There are great opportunities to ski some great snow and keep your slope angles down today. Leave the steeper slopes for later, or head up to the Wasatch and ski in a resort. |
|
|
CURRENT CONDITIONS |
|
Wednesday night's storm brought another 8" (20 cm) of snow to the Gold Basin Study plot, bringing the base up to 54" (135 cm) at 10,000'. The Geyser Pass Winter Trailhead has 32", while down in the Abajo mountains there is a whopping 62" of snow on the ground. The La Sal Mountains are 112% of normal snow water equivalent.
The best skiing and riding conditions of the season can be found on supportable, spongy sun-sheltered slopes. Nordic and skate skiing conditions are primo as well. LUNA volunteers spent an extrordinary amount of time grooming the entire track Friday, back into world-class shape. Thanks to Matt and Mark, you rock! Moonlight ski anyone?
The Geyser Pass Road on Saturday was still not plowed. 4WD is a must and the single lane road could pose some logistical problems for people. Please be courteous and keep your speeds down. The upper Two Mile Road on the east side of the La Sal Mountains is buff for snowmobile access, and so is the Hart's Draw road parking lot. |
|
|
RECENT ACTIVITY |
|
No avalanche activity was observed from our tour to South Mountain on Saturday. Mother Nature, unfortunately, did not give us many signs of instability today and blankets of snow sit unfettered on very appetizing slopes. Our apparently inocuous looking mountain ranges are still able to have large, sizeable avalanches. Last week's storm ripped out the lower part of Horse Creek and some sizable slides in Talking Mountain Cirque. |
|
|
THREAT #1 |
|
| WHERE |
PROBABILITY |
SIZE |
TREND |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Over the next
24 hours.
|
|
|
We have finally sustained a meter of snow on the ground for over a week. Warm, moderate temperatures have been healing any new snow instabilities, even on due North aspects. We are still in the blind with our wind sensor, but anyone could identify heavily wind loaded areas and cross-loaded slopes at and above treeline. These areas would give me the greatest concern today. |
|
|
THREAT #2 |
|
| WHERE |
PROBABILITY |
SIZE |
TREND |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Over the next
24 hours.
|
|
|
Our snowpack still holds some mid-pack instabilities found at the old snow/new snow interface. Moderate and Hard shears were observed with smooth fracture planes yesterday on those pesky near surface factets. Ease in to terrain today, and still completely avoid slopes with numerous trigger points and large scree fields. |
|
|
MOUNTAIN WEATHER |
|
Today: A 40 percent chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 27. Calm wind becoming west northwest around 5 mph.
Tonight: A 40 percent chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 13. East wind between 5 and 10 mph becoming calm.
Monday: A 20 percent chance of snow before 11am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 23. North northwest wind around 5 mph.
Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 11. West northwest wind around 5 mph becoming east southeast. |
|
|
GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS |
The Annual AIARE Level I class in the La Sal mountains, scheduled for February 5th-7th is filling up. Call 435-636-3363 to reserve your spot. |
|
|
This information does not apply to developed ski areas or highways where avalanche control is normally done. This advisory is from the U.S.D.A. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. This advisory describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur. |
|
This advisory provided by the USDA Forest Service, in partnership with:
The Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center, Utah Division of State Parks and Recreation, Utah Division of Emergency Management, Salt Lake County, Salt Lake Unified Fire Authority and the friends of the La Sal Avalanche Center. See our Sponsors Page for a complete list. |
