Avalanche Advisory
Advisory: Moab Area Mountains Issued by Eric Trenbeath for Tuesday - February 13, 2018 - 6:27am
bottom line

The avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE today on steep slopes facing W-N-E at mid and upper elevations. New snow combined with winds have created dangerous avalanche conditions and human triggered avalanches, 1-3' deep, breaking on weak snow near the ground are likely in these areas. Cautious route finding and conservative decision making are essential. Stick to low angle slopes, ridge crests, and avoid areas with recently deposited, wind drifted snow.




special announcement

Grand Country will be plowing the road today and expect to find the gate locked between about 8:30 and 12:00.

https://utahavalanchecenter.org/observations/36601 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.

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

It's going to be a bonafide winter day in the mountains with 6-8" of new snow, cloudy skies, and continued light precipitation. Southeasterly winds howled through the duration of the storm averaging 25-30 mph along ridge tops with gusts in the 50's. They've backed off a bit this morning into the low 20's with gusts in the 30's. It's currently 28 degrees at the Geyser Pass Trailhead.

Things are gettting close to where we may actually be able to ski and ride. But the snowpack is still shallow, and today will be particualrly treacherous as obstacles will be covered by the new snow. Keep it reigned in, and hopefully the next round of snow on Wed-Thu will put us there.

Base depth at Geyser Pass Trailhead: 20"

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: Grand Country will be plowing the road today and expect to find the gate locked between about 8:30 and 12:00.

Grooming conditions: Matt is headed up to groom.

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

6-8" of new snow combined with strong southerly winds has put the first significant load on our fragile snowpack, and the addtional weight of a skier or rider will likley be enough today to tip the balance. Areas with weak, unstable snow exist on steep, W-N-E facing slopes at mid and upper elevations, and human triggered avalanches from 1-3' deep are likely in these areas. Backcountry travelers need to dail it back to under 30 degrees and stay off of, and out from under steep slopes.

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

Strong winds yesterday will have easily blown the new snow into drifts, perhaps depositing them further down slope than usual. Avoid areas that have a smooth, rounded appearance, and look for signs of instability such as cracking in the snow surface. A triggered wind slab also has the potential to step down creating a deeper, more dangerous, persistent slab avalanche.

weather

Today we will see a continued chance for light snow showers, moderate southerly winds and temps in the mid to high 20's. The next system is on track for Wed into Thu.
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.