Avalanche Advisory
Advisory: Moab Area Mountains Issued by Eric Trenbeath for Wednesday - January 18, 2017 - 6:55am
bottom line

The avalanche danger remains MODERATE and heightened avalanche conditions exist on specific terrain features. Primary areas of concern continue to be steep, rocky, upper-mid to upper elevation terrain that faces NW-N-E. Pay special attention to slopes that have steep convexities and blind break-overs - this type of terrain can lure you far down slope, well below where an avalanche is likely to fracture. Elsewhere, the avalanche danger is generally LOW.




special announcement

Road Conditions: The road to the Geyser Pass Trailhead is plowed but snowpacked and slick. 4wd is highly recommended if not imperative.

Backcountry 101 Avalanche Class

We will be offering a Backcountry 101 avalanche class on Feb 3, 4. This course will include a night classroom session and a day in the field. Cost is $125 with proceeds to benefit the Utah Avalanche Center Moab. For more information or to sign up go here.

current conditions

Today will be the last day for bluebird skies and overall conditions in the mountains remain quite good. Soft, settled powder can still be found below tree line, and even in some sheltered alpine areas. Northerly winds have been light over the past couple of days and are blowing in the single digits along ridge tops. It's currently 17 degrees at the Geyser Pass Trailhead and 19 on Pre Laurel Peak.

For a list of recent observations go here.

Storm totals and temperature in Gold Basin.(10,000')

Wind, temperature and humidity on Pre Laurel Peak.(11,700')

Snow totals, temperature and snow/water equivalent at the Geyser Pass Trailhead. (9600')

recent activity

On Monday, two visiting skiers/snowboarders triggered a persistent slab avalanche on the lower portion of Gravel Pit Lanes on the NE face of Tukno at 11,000'. This spot is a repeat offender that was responsible for an avalanche injury last season. Steep and rocky, and with a sharp convexity, this represents the type of terrain where one would still be most likely to trigger an avalanche. Fortunately, no one was caught. Check out the full report from Dave Garcia who spoke to the party in the parking lot.


(Dave Garcia photos)

Avalanche Problem 1
type aspect/elevation characteristics
LIKELIHOOD
LIKELY
UNLIKELY
SIZE
LARGE
SMALL
TREND
INCREASING DANGER
SAME
DECREASING DANGER
over the next 24 hours
description

Most of the wind slabs that formed Monday, and during last week's series of storms, our now pretty well stuck in place. But the nature of our high, wind exposed mountains and complex terrain, seems to always leave a few questionable wind rolls scattered about. Prudent travelers will continue to treat with caution, smooth rounded deposits of wind drifted snow in upper elevation, wind exposed terrain, particularly in those areas where the consequences may include being swept over a cliff. It is also possible, like in the case of Tuesday's human triggered avalanche, that a wind slab could step down into a buried weak layer causing a deeper and more dangerous persistent slab avalanche.

Avalanche Problem 2
type aspect/elevation characteristics
LIKELIHOOD
LIKELY
UNLIKELY
SIZE
LARGE
SMALL
TREND
INCREASING DANGER
SAME
DECREASING DANGER
over the next 24 hours
description

Though making up an increasingly smaller portion of the terrain, it is still possible to trigger an avalanche on buried weak layers of faceted snow. Steep, rocky, northerly facing terrain, starting a few hundred feet below tree line, remains the most suspect. Be wary of steep convexities, blind break overs, and high consequence terrain.

weather

Today will be the last bluebird day in the mountains before a series of storm systems begin to move into the region on Thursday.

Today

Mostly sunny, with a high near 26. West wind 5 to 10 mph.

Tonight

A 30 percent chance of snow after 5am. Mostly clear, with a low around 17. West southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

Thursday

Snow, mainly after 9am. High near 24. Southwest wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 4 to 8 inches possible.

Thursday Night

Snow. Low around 14. Southwest wind around 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 7 to 11 inches possible.

Friday

Snow. High near 21. Southwest wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Friday Night

Snow likely. Cloudy, with a low around 15. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Saturday

Snow. High near 21. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

general announcements

Road Conditions: The road to Geyser Pass Trailhead is snow packed and slick and 4wd is recommended..

Grooming: Jason and Travis set fresh classic track and corduroy on all the trails on Monday, and finished up in just in time to see a great sunset! Thanks guys!


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The information in this advisory is from the US Forest Service which is solely responsible for its content. This advisory describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.