Avalanche Advisory
Advisory: Moab Area Mountains Issued by Eric Trenbeath for Tuesday - March 20, 2018 - 6:40am
bottom line

The avalanche danger remains CONSIDERABLE and human triggered avalanches are likely in steep, wind loaded terrain right around tree line and above that faces NW-N-E.

With daytime heating there will be a rising MODERATE danger for loose wet avalanches on sun exposed slopes. Signs of instability include roller balls, pinwheels, and sloppy wet snow. Get off of and out from under steep slopes when these signs are present.




special announcement

Grand County will likely be plowing today so expect to find the gate closed between 9:00 and noon.

Episode 7 of the UAC Podcast "Mastery and False Mastery - An Interview with 'Big' Don Sharaf" is live. With a snow career spanning over 30 years, Don has enough mileage in the mountains to have learned a thing or two, including the profound value of humility when staring into the face of the dragon. Listen in on our conversation about the idea of mastery and if such a thing can exist in the avalanche world. Check it out on ​the UAC blog, ITunes, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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

INSTAGRAM! We now have a UAC-Moab Instagram page. You can find it here....but better yet follow us on your smartphone. Confused? Ask a teenager.

current conditions

Skies are mostly clear, WNW winds are mostly light, and 10,000' temps are in the single digits. The past two days have been the best of the season with 16" of snow falling during the day on Sunday. But it is March, and the strong sun yesterday dampened the snow surface to the point that most sun exposed slopes will have a stout crust on them this morning. A slight bump in NW winds Sunday evening also affected the snow surface on exposed northerly aspects, so powder seekers will have to move to more sheltered locations. Tim Mathews was out with a crew yesterday and sent in this observation.

Base depth in Gold Basin: 51" Base depth at Geyser Pass Trailhead: 37"

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 will likely be plowing today so expect to find the gate closed between 9:00 and noon. If you get there before the plow expect to find deep, rutted snow and very slick conditions.

Grooming conditions: Trails are not groomed and are covered in deep snow.

NW winds have affected the snow surface in the high country. Note crossloading and drifting. (Tim Mathews photo)
recent activity

Most of the avalanche activity during the storm was confined to the new snow running as loose snow sloughs, storm slabs or wind slabs, but there appears to have been a few pockets in steep, rocky terrain that pulled out into older snow. Brian Hays reported avalanche activity from Dory Canyon, as well as some collapsing of the snow pack, and Tim Mathews observed avalanche activity from the storm event in Gold Basin. Tim also observed a small wet avalanche yesterday.

This avalanche appears to have broken into old snow and looks to be up to 3' deep. Note the character of the surrounding terrain - rocky, featured, and right near treeline, a typical area for finding underlying weak snow. (Tim Mathews photo)
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

Wind drifted snow is scattered liberally across the high country and even down into exposed slopes below treeline. Crossloading has also been a factor and in addition to ridge crests, wind slabs have formed along the lee sides of gully walls and terrain features. Slabs will be stiffer and more stubborn today but steep, wind loaded slopes should definitely be avoided. Stay away from slopes that have a smooth rounded, fat appearance as other signs of instabilty such as cracking in the surface may not be present. A triggered wind slab today also has the potential to step down into a buried weak layer causing a deeper and more dangerous persistent slab avalanche.

A few of the ridges are starting to develop large cornices. Give cornices a wide berth when you are traveling on ridge crests where they are present and be aware of what's above you.

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

The recent snow has provided enough of a load to stress buried weak layers in the snowpack, particularly in areas of steep, rocky, or wooded terrain right around tree line and above where the base of the snowpack is plagued by loose, sugary, faceted snow. Slopes with an easterly component are the most suspect and human triggered avalanches up to 4' deep are likely in many areas. Spatial variability is key - more open slopes and bowls may have a stronger snowpack but thinner areas along slope margins and near rock outcroppings can provide trigger points. Until the snowpack has time to adjust to the new load, steep slopes facing NW-N-E should be avoided.

Avalanche Problem 3
type aspect/elevation characteristics
LIKELIHOOD
LIKELY
UNLIKELY
SIZE
LARGE
SMALL
TREND
INCREASING DANGER
SAME
DECREASING DANGER
over the next 12 hours
description

The sun is high in the sky and temperatures will be warming today. Move off of steep slopes as they start to become damp, or especially if they become wet and sloppy. Signs of instability include roller balls, pinwheels, or actual loose snow sloughing.

Even small slides such as this are an indicator of wet snow instability. (Tim Mathews photo)
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.