Avalanche Advisory
Advisory: Moab Area Mountains Issued by Eric Trenbeath for Friday - March 10, 2017 - 6:40am
bottom line

The avalanche danger is generally LOW but will rise to MODERATE on steep, sun exposed slopes as the day progresses. Stay off of and out from under steep slopes if they become wet and sloppy.




special announcement

Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour Returns to Moab, March 13, 14. Featuring the year’s best films on mountain sport, culture and adventure, this will be the 14th season the festival has come to Moab. Proceeds support the Utah Avalanche Center - Moab and Second Chance Wildlife Rehabilitation. For more info and to purchase tickets, go here.

current conditions

Skies are mostly clear but with a few high clouds, 10,000' temperatures are in the high 20's, and ridge top winds are mostly light from the SW. Snow conditions are a mixed bag though the dedicated enthusiast can still find something to get excited about. Corn-like snow can be found on SE-W aspects - work the sun for best results and finish up before the snow becomes wet an sloppy - while northerly aspects offer a variety of conditions from wind affected to soft, settled powder.

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

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

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

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Decent turning conditons can still be found amongst the wind affected snow in the high country.

recent activity
Avalanche Problem 1
type aspect/elevation characteristics
LIKELIHOOD
LIKELY
UNLIKELY
SIZE
LARGE
SMALL
TREND
INCREASING DANGER
SAME
DECREASING DANGER
over the next 12 hours
description

With soaring temperatures today, the danger for loose wet slide activity will increase on sun exposed slopes. Look for signs of instabilty such as roller balls or pinwheels, and of course, natural, loose wet slide activity. Stay off of and out from under steep, sun exposed slopes if any of these signs are present, or if the snow is wet and sloppy over your boot tops.

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

In our travels through the high country yesterday, Manti-Skyline forecaster Brett Kobernik and I found generally stable snow conditons. As always however, there remain a few things to consider when traveling in avalanche terrain.

Wind Slabs: Extreme, upper elevation, wind exposed terrain still harbors the occasional wind slab. If you push into this type of terrain, carefully evaluate wind rolls, and hard, hollow feeling slabs, and be aware of the consequences.

Cornices: There are a few large cornices out there and you'll want to give them a wide berth if you are traveling along upper elevation ridges where they are present.

Persistent slab: In general, snowpits and stabilty tests have shown a stabilization of the early February, faceted weak layer. We did however, run across an area of very weak snow on a NE aspect around 11,500'. The slope was a repeat running slide path in an alpine bowl, and it appeared to be the exception rather than the rule. But if you find yourself contemplating a steep line on a northerly facing aspect, probe around with your pole for underlying weak facets. If you find them, and there is a slab on top, reconsider your slope selection.

Faceted crystals on a NE aspect at around 11,500'. Crystal close-up photo by Brett Kobernik.

weather

We remain under a dirty ridge of high pressure with nothing in sight. A cool front sliding by to the north will bring a few high clouds to the area by Saturday.

general announcements


Road Conditions: The road to Geyser Pass Trailhead was plowed on Tuesday. Warm temperatures have melted off the packed snow surface down to the dirt, and it will become increasingly muddy throughout the day.

Grooming: Trails have not been groomed.

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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.