Advisory: Moab Area Mountains | utahavalanchecenter.org

Avalanche Advisory

Advisory: Moab Area Mountains	Issued by Eric Trenbeath for Sunday - March 12, 2017 - 6:53am

bottom line

The avalanche danger is generally LOW and mostly stable snow conditions exist. But low danger doesn't mean no danger and we still have a few things to consider.

With daytime heating, the potential exists for loose, wet avalanches on steep, sun exposed slopes. If you feel the snow getting wet and sloppy, or if you notice signs of instability such as roller balls or pinwheels, get off of, and out from under steep slopes.

it may still be possible to trigger an isolated wind slab, or persistent slab avalanche in areas of more extreme, upper elevation, northerly facing terrain. Carefully evaluate individual slopes for smooth hard slabs, and weak, underlying snow if you venture into this type of terrain.

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

We've had a good re-freeze overnight with temperatures above 10,000' dipping into the mid 20's. Winds are light and westerly. Snow conditions are a mixed bag though the dedicated enthusiast can still find something to get excited about. Suppoprtable corn-like snow can be found on SE-W aspects at mid elevations. Work the sun for best results and finish up before the snow becomes wet and sloppy. Northerly facing slopes 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')

recent activity

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 Generally stable snow conditions exist but as always, low danger doesn't mean no danger. Here are a few things to consider when traveling in avalanche terrain. Loose Wet Snow: With warm daytime temperatures, the potential exists for loose wet slide activity on sun exposed slopes. Look for signs of instability 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. Wind Slab: 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. Persistent Slab: In general, snowpits and stabilty tests have shown a stabilization of early February, faceted weak layers. There are however, some isolated areas with weak faceted snow where it may be possible to trigger an avalanche, primarily on upper elevation, northerly aspects. If you find yourself contemplating a steep line in high, extreme, north facing terrain, probe around with your pole, or dig down to look for underlying weak facets. If you find faceted snow, and especially if there is a slab on top of it, reconsider your slope selection. These faceted snow crystals were found on a NE aspect around 11,500' on a repeat running slide path. Though this condition appeared to be the exception rather than the rule, a strong awareness is warranted in steep, upper elevation, north facing terrain. Close up photo by Brett Kobernik.

type

aspect/elevation

characteristics

LIKELIHOOD

LIKELY

UNLIKELY

SIZE

LARGE

SMALL

TREND

INCREASING DANGER

SAME

DECREASING DANGER

over the next 24 hours

description

Generally stable snow conditions exist but as always, low danger doesn't mean no danger. Here are a few things to consider when traveling in avalanche terrain.

Loose Wet Snow: With warm daytime temperatures, the potential exists for loose wet slide activity on sun exposed slopes. Look for signs of instability 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.

Wind Slab: 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.

Persistent Slab: In general, snowpits and stabilty tests have shown a stabilization of early February, faceted weak layers. There are however, some isolated areas with weak faceted snow where it may be possible to trigger an avalanche, primarily on upper elevation, northerly aspects. If you find yourself contemplating a steep line in high, extreme, north facing terrain, probe around with your pole, or dig down to look for underlying weak facets. If you find faceted snow, and especially if there is a slab on top of it, reconsider your slope selection.

These faceted snow crystals were found on a NE aspect around 11,500' on a repeat running slide path. Though this condition appeared to be the exception rather than the rule, a strong awareness is warranted in steep, upper elevation, north facing terrain. Close up photo by Brett Kobernik.

weather

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.

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