Avalanche Advisory
Advisory: Moab Area Mountains Issued by Eric Trenbeath for Wednesday - February 21, 2018 - 6:45am
bottom line

The avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE today and human triggered avalanches up to 3' deep are likely. The danger is most acute on steep slopes at mid and upper elevations that face W-N-E, but suspect any slope that has recent deposits of wind drifted snow. Backcountry travelers today must have excellent snowpack evaluation and route finding skills, and clear ideas about how to avoid avalanche terrain. Stay off of and out from under steep and locally connected slopes. The avalanche danger is MODERATE at low elevations and on mid elevation S-SW south facing terrain.




special announcement

Episode 5 of the UAC podcast "To Hell in a Heartbeat - A Conversation With Tom Diegel and Matt Clevenger About the 12.26.08 Full Burial on Little Water" is live. Matt and Tom talk about the avalanche documented in To Hell in a Heartbeat. Check it out on ITunes, Stitcher, the UAC blog.​

The UAC Marketplace is still open. Our online marketplace still has deals on skis, packs, airbag packs, beacons, snowshoes, soft goods and much more.
current conditions

After fits and starts and lots of bluster, Monday's storm finally delivered starting around 6:00 pm and lasting until about midnight. 10" of light fluffy powder accumulated and the winds backed off significantly. It's been a long time coming but winter is finally here and we now have a skiable and rideable base. The snowpack is still shallow however and many obstacles remain just covered by the recent snow.

Base depth at Geyser Pass Trailhead: 20"

Base depth in Gold Basin: 40"

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 County plowed yesterday. The road will be snowpacked and slick and 4wd is recommended.

Grooming conditions: Trails were groomed through Gold Basin yesterday afternoon.
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

Recent and wind drifted snow have over loaded the weak layers in our fragile snowpack creating dangerous persistent slab conditions and human triggered avalanches up to 3' deep are likely today. The danger is greatest on steep slopes facing W-N-E at mid and upper elevations, but overloaded weak snow exists on all aspects, and any slope with recent deposits of wind drifted snow is supect. Avoiding avalanche terrain by staying off of, and out from under steep and locally connected slopes is your best strategy today.

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 and blowing and drifting snow on Tuesday created dangerous wind slabs at all elevations in exposed terrain. A slight increase in southerly winds today may also blow snow around into sensitive drifts and soft wind slabs. The danger increases with altitude but backcountry travelers need to avoid any steep slope with recent deposits of wind drifted snow. A triggered wind slab will almost certainly step down into buried weak layers causing a deeper and more dangerous persistent slab avalanche.

weather
general announcements

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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.