190% snowpack, sunscreen, & grooming.
Snow.
Winter has arrived to the La Sal Mountains in the span of 2 weeks with 32″ of snow on the stake in Goldbasin and 20″ inches on the Geyser Pass station located below the Beginner Meadow. That 20″, believe it or not, holds 190% of Snow Water Equivalent, Current, Percent of Official Median. It reminds us of last year when were the target of so many storms that missed the surrounding mountain ranges. The Abajo Mountains have not been as favored this year so far. Camp Jackson is reporting 3″ of snow , which is down from a maximum of 8″ after the storm on Tuesday.
La Sal Mountain Road conditions.
The La Sal Loop Road has ice and snowy patches. Geyser Pass Road has been plowed to the Winter Use Parking Lot and should be passable for 2WD with good tires.
Grooming
LUNA has begun grooming operations at Geyser Pass for the 2016/2017 ski season. Gold Basin and the Beginner Meadow were both packed and rolled Thursday afternoon. Surface is soft but easily ski-able. Additional will be performed this weekend. Watch our website or Facebook page for updates. Grooming operations in the Abajo Mountains have not started yet, but new trails and new grooming equipment are eagerly awaiting more snow. Which brings us to:
Weather
Friday is forecast to have a 40% chance of snow in the mountains but no significant accumulation but cold with highs in the teens at 10,000 feet. The weekend looks clear with lows in the teens and highs in the 20s. Perfect weather for enjoying the fresh powder, grooming, or just plain mountain air. Just don’t forget your sunscreen.
Avalanche & Backcountry
Always visit our very own Moab Avalanche Center website for up to date information. If you find that information useful, PLEASE consider a small (or large) donation. Also, the main Utah Avalanche Website has an enormous amount of educational material. Snow cover is dense enough for back country travel, but extreme caution should be taken with such a shallow snow pack.
Gear
We are fully stocked with all the tools you need to get out and enjoy the winter. Whether you ski, snowboard, snow shoe, sled, or just wander the desert, we have the gear and clothing to keep you warm and happy. Come down and visit us or view our inventory at shop.moabgeartrader.com.
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