Moab

The avalanche danger is LOW, and the snowpack is generally stable. Watch for unstable snow on isolated features or in areas of extreme terrain. There are two potential problems to look out for today:

• Dry loose avalanches of weak surface snow on steep, shady slopes.
• Isolated pockets of wind-drifted snow on leeward slopes above treeline.

Check out this recent blog post from Forest Service UAC Director Paige Pagnucco Weak Snow: Today's Surface, Tomorrow's Avalanche Problem.

Drew Hardesty has a new blog titled "The Greatest Rain on Earth."

Geyser Pass Road Conditions: The road is down to the dirt down low while sections of packed snow and ice remain above. AWD with good tires recommended.

Grooming: LUNA groomed all trails on Monday.

We are looking to reschedule our Moab Backcountry 101 Class to February 20, 21 in the hopes that we will have more snow. Click here for information and registration. Moab and Monticello locals can use the discount code MOAB-LOCAL for a 10% discount.

No recent avalanches have been reported.

24 Hour Snow: 0" 72 Hour Snow: 0" Season Total Snow: 44" Depth at Gold Basin: 27"

Winds on Pre-Laurel Peak: N 7 G 15 Temp: 25°F

Weather

Under clear skies, it is 25° F in Gold Basin this morning. High temperatures will reach 42° F at 10,000 feet. Skies will be clear, and winds will be light, blowing from the north-northeast. Mostly dry and unseasonably warm conditions persist through the weekend, with temperatures 10-15 degrees above normal. A pattern shift is possible early next week.

General Conditions

It has been nearly two weeks since our last snowfall. Most of the high peaks have been blasted down to the rocks by strong wind events throughout January. Low avalanche danger is a good time to explore, but the major summits and big objectives will offer poor skiing. Solar aspects are also very thin and are showing a lot of bare ground. The best skiing and riding is on protected shady aspects in the near treeline zone, or poking into the lower portion of the above treeline zone. On these slopes, slab distribution is isolated, and the snowpack is weak and faceted top to bottom. This makes for fun turning in "recycled" or "loud" powder. Believe it or not, turning and riding conditions are improving as the dry spell goes on. Read more about how "recycled" powder is formed here. This very weak surface snow is prone to sluffing in steep, continuous terrain. Dry, loose avalanches will become more likely and grow larger in size as long as our high-and-dry weather persists.

Plenty of slopes offer fun turns like the ones seen in the photo here. See Tim's full observation from our travels yesterday.

See all recent observations here.

Snowpack and Weather Data

NEW! Gold Basin webcam storm stake

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.

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.