US Forest Service Manti-La Sal Avalanche Center

     Snow, Weather and Avalanche Advisory

                       

Introduction:

Good Morning!  This is Evan Stevens with the USFS Manti-La Sal Avalanche Center with your avalanche and mountain weather advisory for the Wasatch Plateau/Manti Skyline Region, including, but not limited to Huntington and Fairview Canyons.  This advisory is brought to you through a partnership of Utah State Parks and the USFS. Today is Saturday, December 11th, 2004 at 7:30 am. 

 

To see some of the Manti Skyline’s past advisories check out the ARCHIVE.  To see current conditions go to our WEATHER PAGE.  To see photos go to the AVIPHOTOS page.

 

We are booking basic avalanche awareness classes all over the Skyline region and have our first AIARE Level I Avalanche Course.  The Level I American Institute for Avalanche, Research and Education class is a three day course with an emphasis on field days.  Call (435) 636-3363 to sign up for this FREE course being held in Mt. Pleasant.  Class dates are January 14th thru the 16th.  Limit of 18 students. 

 

Current Conditions:

Last week’s new snow of about 5-10” has improved conditions dramatically. However, the rapid and excessive warming that we are experiencing is taking its toll on the snow as well.  Snow depths range from about 25-35” on the low end of the scale, with up to 40-50” in favored locations.  Southerly aspects will be crusty in the morning followed by warm and wet conditions in the afternoon. Some descent settled powder can still be found on shady aspects.

 

Mountain Weather:

Today. Partly cloudy. Highs at 8000 feet in the upper 40s.
Tonight. Partly cloudy. Lows at 8000 feet near 20.
Sunday. Partly cloudy. Highs at 8000 feet in the upper 40s

 

Avalanche Conditions:

The heavy new snow and strong winds from the last storm were the perfect ingredients to wake up avalanche conditions on the skyline.  Wind slabs will still be lingering on steep wind loaded terrain that will still react to the weight of a winter traveler.  But these weaknesses are rapidly settling out with the warm weather.  Essentially on terrain steeper that 35 degrees that has been wind loaded, the avalanche danger is MODERATE with pockets of CONSIDERABLE.  Signs of wind loaded terrain would be a cornice hanging over a snow slope, or shooting cracks and whoompfs being witnessed as you travel onto wind loaded terrain.  However, this warm weather also brings about a second avalanche danger for wet snow avalanches.  Although wet snow slides are slower moving and more predictable, they can still take you for a wild ride, which could put you into a tree or over some cliffs, so be wary.  The wet snow avalanche danger will rise from MODERATE to CONSIDERABLE as the day progresses, on SE-S-SW-W aspects advancing in that order as the hours of the clock pass on. 

 

Remember MODERATE avalanche danger means human triggered avalanches are possible and CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger means human triggered avalanches are probable. 

 

As the snow starts to fall on the Wasatch Plateau, it is time to start thinking about how to recreate safely in the snow and mountains.  And with that, one always thinks of avalanches and how to identify potential hazardous areas.  There is a lot of terrain to go out and explore, a little pre-planning and knowledge goes a long way.  Checking this advisory before you venture out as one of your tools is a step in the right direction.  For the time being, here is some things to incorporate this year into your backcountry adventures.  

Ø       The early season takes us all by surprise, make sure you have packed the essentials.

Ø       Change the batteries on your avalanche transceiver and remember to practice!

Ø       Let someone know of your plan

Ø       Go out and have fun!

Once you are on the slopes, pay attention to where recent wind loads are, be wary of open streams and newly deposited cornices.