Moab Avalanche Advisory

Forecaster: Dave Medara

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

Good morning and welcome to the 2010-2011 season at the La Sal Avalanche Center. Today is Friday Dec 3rd.

Friends of the Manti-La Sal Avalanche Center will be showing Matchstick Productions new 2010 Ski Film "The Way I See It" at 8pm at Star Hall. Tickets are $10 at the door and all proceeds go to the Avalanche Center. For more details call Mark 435-260-1742.

This season we are officially opening on the 5th of December. We will be providing the same level of avalanche information and education as in past seasons. This season we'll be offering a level 1 and a level 2 avalanche course here in the La Sals as well as avalanche forecast and mountain weather advisories at least 2 times a week. We will update the advisory more frequently when conditions are dangerous or changing. Check course listings on the "education" tab of this website for more information on what courses are available and where.

CURRENT CONDITIONS

Yesterday, Max and I went up on the mountain and worked on the Gold Basin Weather Station then went for a short tour into Gold Basin to check out the snow. We found some great ski conditions out there - nice powder - but as expected we found the cover to be misleading and dangerously sparse.

Collapsing and "whoompfing" continue to indicate unstable snow structures and the potential for avalanches in areas where the snow is deep enough to produce a slide. Snowpit tests yesterday support this observation. If we pick up any snow this weekend, avalanche conditions could worsen. Please make conservative decisions in the SE Utah backcountry.

The road to the Geyser Pass Trailhead has been plowed by San Juan County. Thanks guys.

The road from the Geyser Pass Trahilhead into Gold Basin has also been groomed by the roller. It is the first time out this season so the track is still a bit rough, but we did manage to put down a "skateable" corduroy layer for cross-country enthusiasts.

THREAT #1
WHERE PROBABILITY SIZE TREND
      Over the next 48 hours.

Moderate (level 2) avalanche hazard at and above treeline can be expected at a minimum. Snowpit analysis indicates some seriously weak layers in the middle of the snowpack. Collapsing and Whoompfing noted again yesterday support these observations. If we get any snow this weekend expect a spike in the Avalanche Danger and human triggered avalanches remain a possibility in the meantime.

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.