Moab

Most terrain has generally LOW danger. Although unlikely, isolated areas remain on steep, northerly aspects above treeline where it may be possible to trigger an avalanche. Minimize your risk by avoiding areas of rocky, radical, extreme terrain. Continue to practice safe travel techniques and cross suspect slopes one at a time. Be mindful of steep convexities or blind break-overs, and avoid areas that sound or feel hollow underneath. Loose snow sluffing may be possible on steep northerly aspects near treeline and below where the snowpack is weakening and losing cohesion. Conditions remain thin and rocks, stumps, and dead fall still pose a significant hazard.

Geyser Pass Road: The road is plowed to the trailhead. Surface is dirt down low, snowpacked and icy above. AWD with good tires recommended.

Grooming Conditions: Surfaces are currently packed solid from weeks of ski and snowmobile traffic. We really need some fresh snow to start grooming.

Now is a great time to dial in your safety gear including putting fresh new batteries in your beacons! Local shops across the state will be handing out free Batteries for Beacons now until February 1, 2025. All you need to do is fill out a quick survey and grab the AAA or AA batteries you need to keep your beacon fresh this season. Head into Moab Gear Trader to get yours!

See the avalanche database here.

6 A.M. Snow and Weather Data

24 Hour Snow: 0" 72 Hour Snow: 0" Season Total Snow: 46" Depth at Gold Basin: 23"

Winds on Pre-Laurel Peak: WNW 5-10 Temp: 25° F Percent of Normal (SWE): 105%

Weather

We should see mostly sunny skies today with maybe a few high clouds as a weak, fast moving system tracks by to the north. WNW winds should be mostly light and temperatures remain mild. On Tuesday, look for increasing clouds ahead of a closed low system that will move through the 4 Corners on Christmas Day. It may not be the miracle we're looking for, but we should see some light snow. We'll see another chance Thu-Fri.

General Conditions

Our meager snowpack is tired and worn and many southerly aspects are bare or nearly so. Above treeline, winds have hammered the snow surface and created a landscape of alternating crusts and hardened wind board. Near treeline and below, the snowpack is weakening and losing cohesion. Loose sluffs may run on the steepest slopes at these elevations. There are still some areas where the dense, November slab remains intact, but supportable conditions are dwindling.

We poked around in the snow above treeline on Friday and found a mostly faceted snowpack. There are areas where a denser slab overlies weaker snow, but the slab itself is deteriorating, and stability tests continue to be non-reactive. Isolated, hard slabs of wind drifted snow overlying weak, faceted, sugary snow can be found up there in some areas. Although these slabs are extremely stubborn to release, this is the setup that would be the most likely to cause problems. Minimize your risk by continuing to avoid steep, convex slopes, especially those that have a smooth rounded appearance, or that sound or feel hollow underneath.

Snowpack and Weather Data

Snowpack Observations

Gold Basin Storm Stake (10,000')

Gold Basin SNOTEL site (10,000')

SNOTEL site near Geyser Pass Winter Trailhead (9600')

Wind Station on Pre-Laurel Peak (11,400')

NWS forecast for the La Sal Mountains.

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This forecast is from the U.S.D.A. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. This forecast describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.