The La Sal Mountains begin 15 miles southeast of Moab.
Spreading south from Grand County into San Juan County, Utah, and east into
Colorado, they reach an elevation of 12,721 feet above sea level.
In winter their white tops contrast with the red rock mesas below them.
Distant vistas and quiet meadows greet the winter traveler. There are only a
few roads open during the winter. Some private cabins exist but there are no ski resorts, no lifts and no
ski-patrols on the mountains. This is all backcountry.
Danger goes hand in hand with the beauty. Avalanches
are most common on slopes between 30 and 45 degrees. The La Sal mountains
average slopes of 38 degrees.
In January 1992, a group of local avid winter sports enthusiasts started the
Winter Rescue Team, meeting regularly during the winter months to train.
GCSAR had Incident Command responsibilities.
With the increasing number of people using the mountains, GCSAR has placed a
greater emphasis on winter rescue, holding joint training sessions with the
Winter Rescue Team in the mountains, working on pre-planned rescues and
probe line exercises. Some people hold membership in both groups.
We have several skiable sleds for rescues in accessible and inaccessible
terrain. In 2004 we received two snowmobiles, making it easier for us
to train with the equipment, faster for us to get them moved whenever needed
and faster to move skiers into the areas needed. Motorized equipment
makes more things possible but there are many places that can be reached
only in "foot". Rescues are time consuming.
We continue to be in charge of moving equipment and Incident Command
responsibilities on site but now travel beyond the headquarters location
with the Winter Rescue Team.
Enjoy the snow but please, always let friends and family know: when you are
due back, where you plan to be and who you will be traveling with.
In addition everyone traveling in the backcountry should:
Take an avalanche awareness course before they go out.
Know the current weather and snow conditions.
Wear an avalanche beacon that they have practiced with.
Carry a probe, collapsible shovel and basic emergency equipment.
Ski spread out, one at a time, not grouped together.
It takes time for help to reach the mountains so the members of a party
are the only people close enough to reach an avalanche victim in those first
few golden minutes.
Manti-La Sal
Avalanche Center
(with avalanche and
mountain weather advisories in season)
NOAA weather forecast for Moab, Utah
(weather forecast for the valley at 4,000 ft elevation)