SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT |
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The LSAC still has room for more folks in both our Level 1 (Jan 28-30) and our Level 2 (Feb 3-6) Avalanche Courses. These courses are provided through the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education who offer an excellent curriculum and teaching methods. They're also inexpensive! |
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BOTTOM LINE
Danger by aspect and elevation on slopes approaching 35° or steeper.
(click HERE for tomorrow's danger rating)
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Danger Rose Tutorial
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The BOTTOM LINE for today in the Abajo and La Sal Mountains is an avalanche danger of MODERATE or LEVEL 2 .
Skiing and riding conditions are excellent. Sunny side slopes have been crusted over by melt-freeze cycles, shady sides and flat areas are primo. |
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CURRENT CONDITIONS |
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Excellent Skiing and Riding conditions continue in SE Utah. Shady E-NE-NE facing slopes and flat areas are holding excellent powder snow. Sunny side slopes are crusted over by yesterday's bake-off. Valley inversions are strongly in place with a temperature of 6 degrees at the airport at 6 AM this morning vs. 22 degrees at our Pre-Laurel weather station at 11,700 feet. Time to gain some elevation.
The road to the Geyser Pass Parking lot in the La Sals has now been cleared. San Juan County had some trouble with their grater but it is back in Service now and the road is open. Thanks for the hard work guys!!
With a massive, heroic grooming effort this week, the entire Nordic Trail System in the La Sals has been buffed. Gold Basin, Geyser Pass, and the Upper and Lower Nordic Loops have all been groomed for skate and classic cross-country skiing. Thanks Gerrish, Dick, Matt and Kristi! Enjoy! |
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RECENT ACTIVITY |
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Things have quieted down. |
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THREAT #1 |
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PROBABILITY |
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TREND |
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Over the next
24 hours.
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Dense snow, predominantly cloudy skies over the holidays, high Relative Humidity values, planetary alignment and good juju have all combined to make for some great skiing and a relatively strong snowpack where I was digging yesterday. Lack of long-term temperature gradients due to consistent storminess and the higher RH values associated with so many cloudy days are one theory I have for how solid the snowpack was in the locations we dug in yesterday. We found no shears or reactivity in snowpit tests in several north and notheast facing locations. We saw no signs of any recent instability.
While the tour we did at S. Mountain Yesterday revealed a stronger snowpack than we suspected we would find, I have to give out this information with 2 caveats:
First - Just because we found strong, stable snow in one area of a mountain range does not mean it will be that strong where YOUwant to ski or ride.
Second - the SE Utah snowpack is notorious for persistent weak layers and unpredictability. Finding snow this strong in SE Utah this time of year is unusual. There is a buried layer of Surface Hoar from 12/28 that may be present in the snowpack 1-2 feet under the surface and could be a failure layer. Look for this before you dive in.
Based on our observations yesterday I am dropping the Avalanche Danger rating to MODERATE or LEVEL2 on steep E-NE-NW facing slopes in the mountains of SE Utah. Approach steep slopes cautiously, and use good travel techniques. Gather as much information as you can before committing to any steep slope. |
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THREAT #2 |
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PROBABILITY |
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TREND |
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Over the next
12 hours.
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Temps are expected to climb into the 40's today at 10,000 ft. The Avalanche Danger may to rise to MODERATE on sunny side slopes SE-SW-W facing, as the day progresses and the warm temperatures and solar radiation loosen up the snowpack. Clouds forecast later in the day may limit this possibility, especially in the more westerly aspects. |
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MOUNTAIN WEATHER |
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NOAA MOUNTAIN WEATHER FORECAST FOR THE LA SALS @10,000FT:
Today: Increasing clouds, with a high near 41. West southwest wind between 5 and 10 mph. Tonight: A 40 percent chance of snow, mainly after 11pm. Cloudy, with a low around 16. West northwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south southeast. Sunday: Snow likely. Cloudy, with a high near 28. South southeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west southwest. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible. Sunday Night: Snow likely. Cloudy, with a low around 3. West northwest wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible. Monday: A 20 percent chance of snow. Partly sunny, with a high near 22. Calm wind becoming west northwest around 5 mph. Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around -1. Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 21. Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 7. Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 28. Wednesday Night: A slight chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 13. |
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GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS |
We will update this message by Monday morning, sooner if conditions change.
The Utah Avalanche Center has a limited number of discount lift tickets available for Brian Head Ski Resort. Follow this link for more information: http://www.backcountry.com/utah-avalanche-center
The LSAC will be offering 2 avalanche classes this year. Our yearly Level 1 class will be held January 28, 29 and 30 of this winter season. The level 1 class focuses on avalanche phenomena, recognition and management of terrain where you might encounter these beasts and basic rescue.
This season, if we can pick up 6 participants, we are also hoping to do a Level 2 class. Tentative dates for the class are February 3-6. It is a 4-day class reviewing the basics covered in level 1, then carrying the subject matter further, exploring snowpack formation, crystal analysis, climactic effects and advanced rescue.
Call 435-636-3363 and speak to Dave or Max for more information or to sign up for one of the classes. |
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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. |
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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. |
