Moab

Recent snow has not significantly changed the avalanche danger, and there's still not quite enough coverage for off trail riding and sliding. Triggering an avalanche is unlikely, but on upper elevation, northerly aspects, isolated slabs of wind drifted snow overlying weak, sugary, faceted snow may exist. These areas are extremely difficult to access at this time but if a slope looks like it has enough snow to ride, it has enough to slide. Suspect the deepest snow areas on the leeward sides of ridge crests and terrain features. Even a small avalanche triggered could take you for a very bumpy ride. We'll start providing regular forecasts when there is enough snow to get around on.

The Geyser Pass Road has not been plowed. Expect a few inches of snow over a snow packed and icy surface this morning. AWD and good tires required.

Grooming: The Geyser Pass Road above the winter trailhead is officially closed to wheeled vehicles and grooming has commenced.

General Conditions

The mountains received 5" of new snow on Dec 13, bringing our base in Gold Basin back up to 22". There's just over a foot of snow at the Geyser Pass winter trailhead. Season snowfall total is 34". The bottom line is we are still a storm or two away from having enough coverage for real turning and riding off the roads. Long range models keep hinting at something later next week and then again around Christmas. There is enough snow on the Geyser Pass Road for cross country skiing and with the road closing on Dec 15, regular grooming will commence.

Snowpack and Weather Data

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.

It’s never too early to start thinking about avalanches. Here are a few things to consider doing:

1-Sign up for an avalanche class.

2-Take a free online avalanche course the UAC built for Know Before You Go or other courses listed on the KBYG website (Develop skills -> Online Learning).

3-Get your avalanche rescue gear ready for winter. Put fresh batteries in your transceiver and update the firmware. Inspect your shovel and probe. Get your airbag backpack ready by possibly doing a test deployment and updating the firmware if it is an electric version.

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.