Abajos

Strong southerly winds have formed fresh slabs of wind drifted snow and human triggered avalanches are possible. Backcountry travelers should avoid steep, wind drifted slopes. Recent wind drifts are recognizable by their smooth, rounded appearance, and cracking is a sign of instability. On some northerly aspects, thick slabs of wind drifted snow are sitting on top of weak layers in the snowpack increasing the potential for deeper avalanches.

If you are getting out in the backcountry, we'd love to hear what you're seeing. Please submit observations here. For the most recent snowpack observations click here. You can also send an email to [email protected] or give me a call with anything noteworthy, especially avalanches! 801-647-8896

Got snow?

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.

NWS forecast for the Abajo Mountains.

Snow totals and temps at Buckboard Flat (8924')

Snow totals and temps at Camp Jackson (8858')

Snowpack Summary and General Conditions

The Abajos picked up about 15" of snow last week accompanied by strong SW winds. The greatest danger exists on steep slopes facing NW-N-E-SE but all slopes steeper than 30 degrees that have recent deposits of wind drifted snow are suspect. In some areas, avalanches triggered in the recent snow may step down to a buried persistent weak layer causing a deeper and more dangerous avalanche. Carrie Noonan and company were up yesterday and they found a reactive weak layer in the snowpack which caused them to turn around. The only way to know for sure if it is there is to dig down and look, and kudos to them for doing the work and making solid decisions. See their complete observation here.

My partners and I were up in the La Sals on Saturday and we found similar conditions to what Carrie reported with blowing and drifting snow and reactive weak layers. See the video below for more on this.