Avalanche Advisory
Advisory: Moab Area Mountains Issued by Eric Trenbeath for Sunday - January 28, 2018 - 7:20am
bottom line

The overall avalanche danger is MODERATE but areas of CONSIDERABLE danger exist in steep terrain that faces NW-N-E above about 11,000' where more than 16" of snow can be found overlying weak, sugary, faceted snow on the ground. Areas of freshly drifted snow will also be found in upper elevation, wind exposed terrain. These new wind slabs will add stress to the already dangerous persistent slab problem on upper elevation, northerly aspects, and travelers should avoid steep terrain in these areas.

On south facing, mid and lower elevation terrain the avalanche danger is LOW.
special announcement

Thanks to members of the Winter Search and Rescue Team who turned out for training yesterday!

Episode 3 of the UAC podcast is live. We talk with UDOT Avalanche Program Supervisor Bill Nalli on how he and his teams keep the Greatest Snow on Earth from avalanching over the open roads and highways of the state. Check it out on ITunes, Stitcher, the UAC blog, or wherever you get your podcasts.

I'm sorry to see we've had to cancel our Backcountry 101 classes due to lack of snow.

The UAC Marketplace is online. The holiday auction is closed, but our online marketplace still has deals on skis, packs, airbag packs, beacons, snowshoes, soft goods and much more.
current conditions

Over the past week, the mountains have picked close to 20" of low density snow. Coverage still remains quite thin but we're nearly there for off-road, over snow travel. If only it would keep snowing! On Saturday I went up over Geyser Pass and found 25-30" of snow in sheltered areas. Sun and wind exposed slopes have considerably less. It was, nevertheless, a beautiful day in the mountains and people were out in abundance enjoying it, primarily on groomed cross country skiing trails and snowmobiling on roads.

NW winds overnight averaged 20-25 mph along ridge tops and it's a much warmer than yesterday 21 degrees at the Geyser Pass Trailhead.

New snow totals in Gold Basin.

Snow totals at the Geyser Pass Trailhead, (9600')

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

Road conditions to Geyser Pass Trailhead: Snowpacked and passable to most vehicles with good tires. All wheel drive recommended.

Grooming conditions: Matt and Marshall groomed the entire mountain on Saturday including the lower meadows and the Loppet Loop at Geyser Pass.

Took this pic over in Dark Canyon on Saturday. Still thin but getting there!
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

Steep, north facing terrain right around treeline and above does have areas of considerable avalanche danger, and human triggered avalanches remain possible in these areas. Collapsing and cracking in the snowpack are still a regular occurrence, and stability tests such as the one below continue to produce results. For the forseeable future, backcountry travelers should avoid, steep, northerly facing, upper elevation terrain where more than about 16" of snow rests on top of an unstable, loose, sugary, basal facet layer.

Cracking and collapsing such as this in the weak, shallow snowpack is still a regular occurrence.

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

Blowing and drifting snow has continued in upper elevation, wind exposed terrain over the past few days. If stomping around in the high country, be on the lookout for smooth, rounded deposits of wind deposited snow that have a hollow feel or sound to them. On northerly facing aspects, these new wind slabs have added additional stress to underlying persistent weak layers, and a triggered wind slab could step down causing a deeper and more dangerous avalanche.

weather
general announcements

The UAC has new support programs with Outdoor Research and Darn Tough. Support the UAC through your daily shopping. When you shop at Smith's, or online at Outdoor Research, REI, Backcountry.com, Darn Tough, Patagonia, NRS, Amazon, eBay a portion of your purchase will be donated to the FUAC. See our Donate Page for more details on how you can support the UAC when you shop.

Benefit the Utah Avalanche Center when you buy or sell on eBay - set the Utah Avalanche Center as a favorite non-profit in your eBay account here and click on eBay gives when you buy or sell. You can choose to have your seller fees donated to the UAC, which doesn't cost you a penny

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.