Abajos

The avalanche danger is LOW on all aspects and elevations and generally safe avalanche conditions exist. Watch for unstable snow on isolated terrain features, particularly in areas of rocky, more radical more extreme terrain.

It's also still very low tide out there. Beware of rocks, stumps, and deadfall lurking beneath the surface.

We will be holding a Backcountry 101 course Feb 18, 19. It's a great introduction to understanding avalanche hazard and how to travel through the mountains safely. Go here for details and to register. And a huge thanks to our friends at Moab Gear Trader for their sponsorship of this course!

Bundle up if you are headed to the mountains today. Temps have plummeted to below 0 as a shortwave trough exits the region. Adding to the discomfort are pesky, light to moderate NW winds that should blow throughout the day. Skies will be sunny and high temps at 10,000' will barely break 10 degrees. It will be a bit warmer tomorrow as we remain under a dry NW flow. Conditions remain dry through the long term period with a hint of a change at the end of the model run around the 15th.

NWS Weather Forecast.

Snow totals and temps at Buckboard Flat (8924')

Snow totals and temps at Camp Jackson (8858')

Snowpack

Over the past few weeks, the snow surface has been subject to the ravages of wind and sun and conditions are variable. Depths across the range average 2'-3' deep above about 9000' on northerly aspects while many south facing slopes are bare. Snow on northerly facing slopes has grown weak and sugary near the surface, and slopes that have held snow since October, also have a weak, sugary, faceted layer at the base of the snowpack. Human triggered avalanches are unlikely at this time, but this sugary, faceted snow is forming a weak base for future snow loads if and when they finally come.

Who's up for some free avalanche training? Get a refresher, become better prepared for an upcoming avalanche class, or just boost your skills. Go to https://learn.kbyg.org/ and scroll down to Step 2 for a series of interactive online avalanche courses produced by the UAC.

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