avalanche advisory

February 4, 2006 - 7:13 am   The avalanche danger is MODERATE today on any steep slopes with new or old drifts of wind blown snow.   With daytime heating, the danger will increase to MODERATE on steep, sunny slopes, and possibly the mid and low elevation shady slopes.

Lees

Links: Avalanche List Photos Profile List Weather Links Encyclopedia 24 Hrs Today’s increasing winds may create a few fresh drifts that will be sensitive, so as usual, avoid any of the steeper terrain with new or old drifts of wind blown snow.  Also keep in mind that there have been a few slides the past three days that have broken into old snow on both sunny and shady slopes.  These slides have been up to 100’ wide, and 2-3’ deep.  Today, there are still a few isolated places where you could trigger a deeper slide.

9 Hrs Today’s other avalanche problem will be wet slides.  The warming temperatures and occasional sun will heat the snow surface on steep, sunny slopes, and wet sluffs will be easy to trigger.  With periods of thin cloud cover, the snow surface on may also heat up mid and lower elevation shady slopes, so be alert for damp and sloppy snow on the shady aspects, too.

For a second day in a row, backcountry travelers yesterday kicked off small slides on steep, wind drifted slopes of all aspects.  These slides were generally less than a foot deep, and up to 50’ wide.  While that sounds pretty tame, these slides were actually big enough to catch a few people, so if you get onto steep slopes today, think about the consequences should you go for a ride. It’s a mild morning, with mostly cloudy skies, temperatures in the upper teens to low 20’s, and the southwesterly winds generally less than 15 mph.  Several weeks of small storms were capped off Wednesday through Thursday with another foot of dense, but loose snow, with the upper elevations in the Cottonwoods receiving close to 18”.  Turning, riding and snowshoeing conditions are excellent on northwest through easterly facing slopes.   Conditions on the south and westerly facing slopes are mixed.  Late yesterday, the sun peeked out in some drainages, and there the snow will be crusted this morning.

A rapidly approaching Pacific storm system will bring snow to the area this evening.  Today, skies will be mostly cloudy with periods of filtered sunshine.  The southwesterly ridgetop winds will increase into the 20 to 30 mph range.  Highs today will be near 30 at 10,000’ and 40 at 8,000’. Tonight’s fast moving storm should drop one final shot of powder, about 6 to 12”, before moving east on Sunday.  Drier air will move in late Sunday, and high pressure will dominate the weather this week.

Click here to check out our new online avalanche encyclopedia.

Early birds and snow geeks can catch our 6AM report at 364-1591.

You can find our mountain weather forecast here by about noon each day.

Click HERE for a text only version of the avalanche advisory.

To have this advisory automatically e-mailed to you each day, click HERE. 

UDOT also has a highway avalanche control work hotline for Big Cottonwood, Little Cottonwood, and Provo canyons, which is updated as needed. 801-975-4838.

The Wasatch Powderbird Guides didn’t get out yesterday and today they will fly in Mineral, Cardiff, Days, Silver, Grizzly, White Pine, and American Fork.   For more info, call 742-2800.

Please report any backcountry snow and avalanche conditions.  Call (801) 524-5304 or 1-800-662-4140, email uac@avalanche.org or fax 801-524-6301.  The information in this advisory is from the U.S. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content.  This advisory describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.

Brett Kobernik will update this advisory by 7:30 Sunday morning.  Thanks for calling.

This advisory provided by the Wasatch Cache National Forest, in partnership with: 
Utah Division of State Parks and Recreation, The Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center, Utah Department of Emergency Services and Homeland Security and Salt Lake County

DISCLAIMER: Above is information on each factor affecting todays' danger rating. All factors must be considered to develop a backcountry travel plan that will reduce your risk.
 


The post was created using an automated process maintained by First Tracks! Online.
 
February 5, 2006 - 7:05 am   The avalanche danger is MODERATE today in mid and lower elevation non wind affected terrain.   A CONSIDERABLE danger exists on steep upper elevation terrain that has any recent deposits of wind drifted snow.  Natural avalanches are still possible and I would expect that numerous slopes could avalanche with the weight of a person.

Kobernik

Links: Avalanche List Photos Profile List Weather Links Encyclopedia 24 Hrs Today fresh wind drifts will be the main focus.  With the wind shift last night we will see wind slabs on a wider variety of aspects today.  You will more then likely find these on north through east through south facing slopes at the upper elevations.  It appears that the winds are not getting into the lower elevation terrain but continue to watch for cracking under your feet as you travel today.  This is a sure sign you are in wind affect snow.  We may be past the point of natural activity and these fresh drifts may be a bit more stubborn today letting you get out on to them before they release.  Any fresh drifts along the upper ridgelines are suspect to avalanching today.

Continued windy conditions produced sensitive soft slab avalanches along the upper ridgelines on Saturday.  These were both natural and human triggered.  Most were 6 to 10 inches deep but I did get one report of a slide 1 to 2 ½ feet deep in Broads Fork.  These slides ran anywhere from 150 feet to over 1000 feet vertical distance.  Debris piles were not that deep but these slides definitely had the potential to take someone for a ride.  Once you were off the ridgelines the drifting snow was not near as sensitive producing only stubborn cracking with nothing moving.  Click here for some photos

Ridgetop winds were quite gusty for most of the day on Saturday blowing from the southwest.  They shifted around to the northwest just before midnight but continued to blow in the strong range.  Temperatures cooled into the 10 to 20 degree range overnight.  New snow totals as of 6 am are around 6 inches in the Cottonwoods, 2 to 4 inches in the Provo Mountains, and a couple of inches in the Ogden Mountains.

Snow showers will continue during the day especially in areas favored by a northwest flow.  Another 3 to 5 inches of snow is possible.  Gusty winds from the northwest will continue then start to decrease as the day goes on.  Ridgetop temperatures will be in the low teens.  A ridge of high pressure will start to build in and will keep us dry at least through Friday.

Click here to check out our new online avalanche encyclopedia.

 

Early birds and snow geeks can catch our 6AM report at 364-1591.

 

You can find our mountain weather forecast here by about noon each day.

Click HERE for a text only version of the avalanche advisory.

To have this advisory automatically e-mailed to you each day, click HERE. 

UDOT also has a highway avalanche control work hotline for Big Cottonwood, Little Cottonwood, and Provo canyons, which is updated as needed. 801-975-4838.

The Wasatch Powderbird Guides didn’t get out yesterday probably won’t get out today.   For more info, call 742-2800.

Please report any backcountry snow and avalanche conditions.  Call (801) 524-5304 or 1-800-662-4140, email uac@avalanche.org (uac@avalanche.org) or fax 801-524-6301.  The information in this advisory is from the U.S. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content.  This advisory describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.

Drew Hardesty will update this advisory by 7:30 Monday morning.  Thanks for calling.

This advisory provided by the Wasatch Cache National Forest, in partnership with: 
Utah Division of State Parks and Recreation, The Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center, Utah Department of Emergency Services and Homeland Security and Salt Lake County

DISCLAIMER: Above is information on each factor affecting todays' danger rating. All factors must be considered to develop a backcountry travel plan that will reduce your risk.
 


The post was created using an automated process maintained by First Tracks! Online.
 
Wasatch Cache National Forest
In partnership with: Utah Division of State Parks and Recreation, The Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center, Utah Department of Emergency Services and Homeland Security and Salt Lake County.
 
AVALANCHE ADVISORY
Monday, February 06, 2006  7:30am
Good morning, this is Drew Hardesty with the Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center with your backcountry avalanche and mountain weather advisory.  Today is Monday, February 06, 2006, and it’s about 7:30 am.
 
Current Conditions:
Skies are clear and winds, thankfully, have become light except for the most exposed ridgelines, where they’re blowing 20mph from the northwest.  With the ridge building, temperatures are on the upswing, as some stations show an 8-13F degree gain since midnight.  Wind affected snow seems spotty and exclusive to the highest ridgelines, but otherwise with today’s bluebird, you’ll be riding into the mystic.
 
Avalanche Conditions:
Ski area control teams pulled out a few localized soft slabs up to 12” deep on the steep north through east lee slopes.  Other than some minor sluffing in the light density new snow, folks in the backcountry couldn’t buy an avalanche.  In the Logan mountains on Saturday, a ski party heard a loud whoomph as they remotely triggered a slide into faceted snow 1-2’ deep and 200’ wide on a mid-elevation south to southeast slope.
 
Today’s wild card will be the rapid rise in temperatures combined with the first day of intense solar radiation in over a week.  A rapid rise in temperatures, especially on the first day, has a two-pronged effect on the mechanics of the snowpack.  First, it starts to make the honey flow a bit faster by decreasing its viscosity, allowing the snow to ‘creep’ downhill a bit faster.  This can unduly strain the bonds between different layers of snow, particularly if a persistent weak layer is present.  Secondly, a warmer slab softens up, effectively turning what used to be a cold sheet of plywood into a warm floppy mattress.  We’re able to impact buried weak layers through this softening, which may lead to increased probability of human triggering.  Cornices, the welded-in wind slabs from the past couple of days, and a few isolated pockets of buried faceted snow may all be more sensitive today. 
 
Just like clockwork, watch for wet point release avalanches on the sun exposed slopes with daytime heating.
 
Bottom Line:
The avalanche danger for wet avalanches will rise to CONSIDERABLE today on the steep east, south, and west facing slopes with daytime heating.  Natural and human triggered avalanches in the wet snow will leave decent debris piles in the steep confined terrain.  While much of the terrain will have a mostly LOW danger, pockets of MODERATE exist due to the rapid warming accentuating the sensitivity for triggering cornices, the welded-in wind slabs from the past couple days, and a few isolated pockets of buried faceted snow.
 
Mountain Weather:
About as good as it gets.  Sunny skies, light winds, and moderate temperatures.  8000’ highs will reach into the mid-thirties while 10,000’ temps rise into the mid-twenties.  High pressure builds for most of the week with a possible storm next weekend.
Click here for the National Weather Service graphic Forecast. 
 
Announcements:
Click here to check out our new online avalanche encyclopedia.
 
Early birds and snow geeks can catch our 6AM report at 364-1591.
 
You can find our mountain weather forecast here by about noon each day.
Click HERE for a text only version of the avalanche advisory.
To have this advisory automatically e-mailed to you each day, click HERE. 
UDOT also has a highway avalanche control work hotline for Big Cottonwood, Little Cottonwood, and Provo canyons, which is updated as needed. 801-975-4838.
The Wasatch Powderbird Guides didn’t get out yesterday, but will head to AF, White Pine, the Sessions, and Cascade today.   For more info, call 742-2800.
Please report any backcountry snow and avalanche conditions.  Call (801) 524-5304 or 1-800-662-4140, email uac@avalanche.org (uac@avalanche.org) or fax 801-524-6301.  The information in this advisory is from the U.S. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content.  This advisory describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.
I will update this advisory by 7:30 Tuesday morning.  Thanks for calling.
 
 



The post was created using an automated process maintained by First Tracks! Online.
 
February 8, 2006 - 7:06 am   This morning, the avalanche danger is generally LOW, but will rise to MODERATE on and below steep, sun exposed slopes with day time heating.  Cornices are very sensitive, and there are isolated places where a person could trigger a sluff or wind slab on the shady slopes. 

Lees

Links: Avalanche List Photos Profile List Weather Links Encyclopedia 10 Hrs While the snowpack is mostly stable, there are obviously a few problems to watch out for.  First, as the day heats up, the snow on steep, sunny slopes will become wet and sloppy, with both natural and human triggered wet sluffs and slabs possible.  So when the snow heats up, get off steep slopes and stay out of the runout zones and gullies below.  Secondly, there are a few rogue wind slabs that can be triggered on steep slopes, in addition to loose snow sluffs on the very steep shady slopes.  And finally, cornices are sensitive.  They are breaking back further than expected and can be triggered from a distance.

There was a very close call in the backcountry yesterday.  Two avalanche workers were examining different crowns in the south facing Monte Cristo slide path in upper Little Cottonwood, when a party above inadvertently released a cornice, hitting the upper worker and triggering a slab avalanche that ran 1500‘.  The upper worker was caught and carried, eventually self arresting to avoid a fatal ride, and the slide missed the lower person.  In spite of almost killing two people and wasting $1000 worth of gear, the cornice droppers didn’t even offer an apology.  Bottom line: Just because you have two strong legs, good lungs and can make turns doesn’t mean you belong in the backcountry.  You need good avalanche and backcountry travel skills, and before you drop cornices, jump off cliffs, ski cut slopes or drop steep lines, you must be CERTAIN that no one is below you. 

It’s a calm, clear morning in the mountains, with the northerly winds generally less than 15 mph.  Temperatures have warmed into the 20’s and 30’s, with slightly cooler air pooled in the drainage bottoms.  The sunny, southeast through westerly facing slopes are crusted this morning, but will rapidly soften to slop.  The shady, northerly facing slopes retain good powder, with a few patches of wind damage.

High pressure will be over the area through the remainder of the week.  Wednesday and Thursday will be copycat days, with clear skies and light northerly winds.  Highs will be in the low forties at 8,000’ and near freezing at 10,000’.  Temperatures will cool slightly on Friday, but according to the models, no snow is in sight through the weekend.

Click here to check out our new online avalanche encyclopedia.

Early birds and snow geeks can catch our 6AM report at 364-1591.

You can find our mountain weather forecast here by about noon each day.

Click HERE for a text only version of the avalanche advisory.

To have this advisory automatically e-mailed to you each day, click HERE. 

UDOT also has a highway avalanche control work hotline for Big Cottonwood, Little Cottonwood, and Provo canyons, which is updated as needed. 801-975-4838.

Wasatch Powderbird Guides flew in Cardiff, Mineral, Days, Grizzly and the Bountiful Sessions yesterday and today they will be in Cardiff, Mineral, Days, and Silver with a second ship in Cascade and possibly American Fork.  For more info, call 742-2800.

Please report any backcountry snow and avalanche conditions.  Call (801) 524-5304 or 1-800-662-4140, email uac@avalanche.org or fax 801-524-6301.  The information in this advisory is from the U.S. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content.  This advisory describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.

Bruce Tremper will update this advisory by 7:30 Thursday morning.  Thanks for calling.

This advisory provided by the Wasatch Cache National Forest, in partnership with: 
Utah Division of State Parks and Recreation, The Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center, Utah Department of Emergency Services and Homeland Security and Salt Lake County

DISCLAIMER: Above is information on each factor affecting todays' danger rating. All factors must be considered to develop a backcountry travel plan that will reduce your risk.
 


The post was created using an automated process maintained by First Tracks! Online.
 
February 9, 2006 - 7:16 am   This morning, the avalanche danger is LOW, with isolated pockets of  MODERATE danger on and below steep, sun exposed slopes with day time heating.  There is also pockets of MODERATE danger on steep slopes with recent wind deposits, which you will find mainly along the ridges.  

Links: Avalanche List Photos Profile List Weather Links Encyclopedia 8 Hrs First, the strong sun may make some localized wet sluffs on steep south facing slopes today. Second, the ridge top winds will pick up and blow 20-30 from the northwest and north. Although there isn’t much snow to blow around, the wind may create some isolated wind deposits especially along the ridges. Finally, this warm weather makes the cornices sensitive, so you should continue to give them a wide berth.

 

First, we want to apologize for our ranting yesterday when a backcountry party triggered a cornice and very nearly killed two UDOT avalanche workers below on Monte Cristo in Little Cottonwood Canyon. As avalanche workers, we all have several close friends who have been killed in avalanches and we all live in constant fear of it ourselves. So when some of our closet friends and most respected avalanche workers have a close call, we tend to get tweaked. It sounds like it was unintentional and an honest mistake. But we still shouldn’t loose the lesson that we all need to be careful about traveling above other parties in avalanche terrain—something that is often overlooked in the urban backcountry of the Wasatch. On most ski patrols, traveling above your partner is considered to be tantamount to attempted homicide and the infraction often dealt with severely.On another note, no avalanches were observed or triggered in the backcountry yesterday despite many people riding big, bold lines.   Today will be another day in paradise with bluebird skies and near-freezing temperatures along the ridge tops and around 45 degrees down at 8,000’. This morning, the ridge top winds have picked up and are blowing 20 mph on the most exposed ridges. Snow surface conditions include sun crusted snow on the south facing slopes and some occasional tricky wind slabs but the wind and sun sheltered slopes still have quite nice recrystallized snow.

We should have sunny and warm weather again today with ridge top temperatures near freezing and 45 degrees down at 8,000’. Ridge top winds will pick up and blow 20-30 mph from the north and northwest as a cold pocket of air passes east of us. By Friday afternoon, temperatures will plummet down to around 10 degrees on the ridge tops with continued moderate to strong northerly winds. Then we should spring back to warmer temperatures later in the weekend and early next week. Finally, we should get a very cold storm on about Wednesday, which will make ridge top temperatures drop down below zero. National Weather Service graphic Forecast. 

Click here to check out our new online avalanche encyclopedia.

 

Early birds and snow geeks can catch our 6AM report at 364-1591.

 

You can find our mountain weather forecast here by about noon each day.

Click HERE for a text only version of the avalanche advisory.

To have this advisory automatically e-mailed to you each day, click HERE. 

UDOT also has a highway avalanche control work hotline for Big Cottonwood, Little Cottonwood, and Provo canyons, which is updated as needed. 801-975-4838.

Wasatch Powderbird Guides flew in yesterday Cascade, Cardiff and Mineral and today they will be in Cascade, Cardiff, Mineral, Days, and Silver and Mill Creek.  For more info, call 742-2800.

Please report any backcountry snow and avalanche conditions.  Call (801) 524-5304 or 1-800-662-4140, email uac@avalanche.org (uac@avalanche.org) or fax 801-524-6301.  The information in this advisory is from the U.S. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content.  This advisory describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.

Brett Kobernik will update this advisory by 7:30 Friday morning.  Thanks for calling

This advisory provided by the Wasatch Cache National Forest, in partnership with: 
Utah Division of State Parks and Recreation, The Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center, Utah Department of Emergency Services and Homeland Security and Salt Lake County

DISCLAIMER: Above is information on each factor affecting todays' danger rating. All factors must be considered to develop a backcountry travel plan that will reduce your risk.
 


The post was created using an automated process maintained by First Tracks! Online.
 
February 10, 2006 - 6:18 am   The avalanche danger is generally LOW.  Remember that LOW doesn’t mean NO danger.  Watch for small wind drifts that may crack and surprise you, knocking you off your feet in exposed locations.

Kobernik

Links: Avalanche List Photos Profile List Weather Links Encyclopedia 24 Hrs Things are quiet in the backcountry as far as avalanches are concerned.  The only activity from Thursday included minor wet slides on some southerly facing slopes.  With cooler temperatures today, wet activity will be even more minimal.  There is not a lot of loose snow around for the winds to transport but with the gusty conditions in the forecast you should pay attention for fresh drifts along the upper ridges.

No significant new activity reported or observed. The current snow surface is a mix of sun, melt/freeze, and wind crusts at all elevations.  If you search around you can find a few areas with soft settled dense powder.  Ridgetop winds are slowly picking up from the north and are averaging around 15 mph with gusts near 30 and into the 50s at the most exposed locations.  Ridgetop temperatures are in the mid teens.

Cooler breezy conditions are in store for today.  Skies will be mostly sunny with ridgetop temperatures in the upper teens to low 20s.  Ridgetop winds will be from the north in the 15 to 25 mph range with stronger gusts at the higher locations.  A weak system will affect the area after the weekend bringing little chance for snow.  A better looking change in the weather pattern should start mid week bring more promising chances for snow.   National Weather Service graphic Forecast. 

The Banff Mountain Film Festival will be in town February 21st & 22nd.  This is a benefit for the Utah Avalanche Center.  It will be at Kingsbury Hall on the University of Utah campus.  Shows start at 7pm.  Tickets are $7 and are available at Kingsbury Hall, Art-Tix, the Outdoor recreation Program at the U, or REI.  For more information call 581-8516.



Click here to check out our new online avalanche encyclopedia.

 

Early birds and snow geeks can catch our 6AM report at 364-1591.

 

You can find our mountain weather forecast here by about noon each day.

Click HERE for a text only version of the avalanche advisory.

To have this advisory automatically e-mailed to you each day, click HERE. 

UDOT also has a highway avalanche control work hotline for Big Cottonwood, Little Cottonwood, and Provo canyons, which is updated as needed. 801-975-4838.

Yesterday Wasatch Powderbird Guides flew in Cascade, Cardiff, Mineral, and Mill Creek and today they will be in Cardiff, Mineral, Days, Silver, Mill Creek, and the Sessions.  For more info, call 742-2800.

Please report any backcountry snow and avalanche conditions.  Call (801) 524-5304 or 1-800-662-4140, email uac@avalanche.org (uac@avalanche.org) or fax 801-524-6301.  The information in this advisory is from the U.S. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content.  This advisory describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.

Evelyn Lees will update this advisory by 7:30 Saturday morning.  Thanks for calling.

This advisory provided by the Wasatch Cache National Forest, in partnership with: 
Utah Division of State Parks and Recreation, The Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center, Utah Department of Emergency Services and Homeland Security and Salt Lake County

DISCLAIMER: Above is information on each factor affecting todays' danger rating. All factors must be considered to develop a backcountry travel plan that will reduce your risk.
 


The post was created using an automated process maintained by First Tracks! Online.
 
February 11, 2006 - 6:53 am   Though the avalanche danger is generally LOW today, isolated areas of instability may exist.  A few new wind drifts may have formed along the higher ridgelines that a person could trigger on steep slopes and as the day heats up, it may be possible to trigger small wet sluffs on steep, sunny slopes.

Links: Avalanche List Photos Profile List Weather Links Encyclopedia 24 Hrs The snow pack is mostly stable, with just a few things to watch for today.  The moderate to strong northerly winds may have formed a few shallow wind drifts, mostly confined to the highest ridges.  Just the sort of thing to knock you off your feet should you get surprised.  Also, as temperatures warm, it may be possible to initiate small wet sluffs on steep, sunny slopes. It’s been a quiet few days in the backcountry, with no new avalanches reported.  A dry cold front slipped through the state yesterday, and temperatures bottomed out in the single digits at most stations.  The brisk northerly winds are averaging 10 to 20 mph, speeds in the 30’s across the highest peaks.  Good recrystallized powder exists on sheltered, northerly facing slopes, with the challenge in finding untracked terrain.  Other aspects will range from teeth chattering, rock hard crusts to breakable crusts this morning, both of which will soften with daytime heating.  If you have impeccable timing and location choice, you may even be able to find corn-like skiing on supportable crusts as they warm.

 

A high pressure ridge building in for the weekend will keep northern Utah under a dry, stable northerly flow.  Temperatures will warm rapidly today, reaching the low 30’s at 8,000’ and the mid 20’s at 10,000’.  The winds will be in the 10 to 15 mph range this morning, stronger across the highest peaks, before decreasing this afternoon.  Tomorrow will be a repeat of today, but with light winds and slightly warmer temperatures.  The models are still advertising a pattern change for mid week, with a possibility of snow.

Click here to check out our new online avalanche encyclopedia.

Early birds and snow geeks can catch our 6AM report at 364-1591.

You can find our mountain weather forecast here by about noon each day.

Click HERE for a text only version of the avalanche advisory.

To have this advisory automatically e-mailed to you each day, click HERE. 

UDOT also has a highway avalanche control work hotline for Big Cottonwood, Little Cottonwood, and Provo canyons, which is updated as needed. 801-975-4838.

Wasatch Powderbird Guides flew in Cardiff, Mineral and Lambs yesterday and today they will be in Cardiff, Mineral, Days, Silver, Lambs and the Sessions.  For more info, call 742-2800.

Please report any backcountry snow and avalanche conditions.  Call (801) 524-5304 or 1-800-662-4140, email uac@avalanche.org or fax 801-524-6301.  The information in this advisory is from the U.S. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content.  This advisory describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.

Drew Hardesty will update this advisory by 7:30 Sunday morning.  Thanks for calling.

This advisory provided by the Wasatch Cache National Forest, in partnership with: 
Utah Division of State Parks and Recreation, The Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center, Utah Department of Emergency Services and Homeland Security and Salt Lake County

DISCLAIMER: Above is information on each factor affecting todays' danger rating. All factors must be considered to develop a backcountry travel plan that will reduce your risk.
 


The post was created using an automated process maintained by First Tracks! Online.
 
February 13, 2006 - 6:52 am   The avalanche danger remains generally LOW today.  Isolated pockets of stubborn, yet triggereable hard wind drifts exist in steep, exposed, upper elevation terrain.  As the day heats up, it may be possible to trigger small wet sluffs on steep, sunny slopes.

Hardesty

  

Links: Avalanche List Photos Profile List Weather Links Encyclopedia 24 Hrs Continue to be suspicious of hard wind slabs in drifted and cross-loaded areas and follow safe travel protocol.  All four of the triggered hard slabs from Saturday were shallow and pockety, but resulted in four partial burials in Cardiff and a ride for over 2000’ on Box Elder. 

 

No new avalanches were reported from the backcountry, except for a late ob from a skier who triggered a small hard slab in Mill B South on Saturday.  It averaged 6-8” deep and about 30’ wide and in typical hard slab fashion, broke 10-20’ above him.  Bruce Tremper and Bob Athey’s excellent investigations into the Box Elder accident can be found here and here (scroll down).  Brett Kobernik’s insightful report on the accident off Little Superior can be found here. 

The ridge will start to break down today, paving the way for a series of cold storms starting Tuesday night through at least the weekend.  But for now, skies are mostly clear with mountain temperatures in the mid to upper teens.  A system passing by to the northeast of us overnight is responsible for the bump in wind speeds, and we’ll continue to see speeds of 15-20mph out of the northwest, with higher averages along the most exposed ridgelines. 

We’ll have mostly sunny skies with 20-25mph winds out of the northwest.  8000’ highs will be in the mid-thirties with 10,000’ temps rising to the mid-twenties.  A series of cold storms will move into Utah by Tuesday night with unsettled weather expected through and beyond the weekend.  We’ll have our mountain weather updated hereby about noon A long time fundraiser for the Utah Avalanche Center, the Banff Mountain Film Festival is coming back to town February 21st and 22nd at Kingsbury Hall.  Tickets will be available at Kingsbury Hall, Art-Tix, the Outdoor Rec Program at the U and REI.  For more info, call 581-8516.

Click here to check out our new online avalanche encyclopedia.

Early birds and snow geeks can catch our 6AM report at 364-1591.

Click HERE for a text only version of the avalanche advisory.

To have this advisory automatically e-mailed to you each day, click HERE. 

UDOT also has a highway avalanche control work hotline for Big Cottonwood, Little Cottonwood, and Provo canyons, which is updated as needed. 801-975-4838.

Wasatch Powderbird Guides flew in AF, the Sessions, and Lamb’s yesterday and will hit AF, White Pine, Cascade, and the Sessions today.  For more info, call 742-2800.

Please report any backcountry snow and avalanche conditions.  Call (801) 524-5304 or 1-800-662-4140, email uac@avalanche.org or fax 801-524-6301.  The information in this advisory is from the U.S. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content.  This advisory describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.

Brett Kobernik will update this advisory by 7:30 Tuesday morning.  Thanks for calling.

 

This advisory provided by the Wasatch Cache National Forest, in partnership with: 
Utah Division of State Parks and Recreation, The Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center, Utah Department of Emergency Services and Homeland Security and Salt Lake County

DISCLAIMER: Above is information on each factor affecting todays' danger rating. All factors must be considered to develop a backcountry travel plan that will reduce your risk.
 


The post was created using an automated process maintained by First Tracks! Online.
 
February 14, 2006 - 6:57 am   The avalanche danger remains generally LOW today.  You need to keep in mind that there maybe a few hard slabs that could release in the higher steep exposed terrain.

Kobernik

Links: Avalanche List Photos Profile List Weather Links Encyclopedia 24 Hrs For today the main concern will be the same as the last few days.  We need to watch for stubborn wind slabs along the upper elevation ridgelines.  The winds over the last week have formed numerous layers of wind slabs.  They are variable in nature both in distribution and structure.  The slabs that may release are quite pockety and may take you off guard with the otherwise benign avalanche conditions.  Listen for hollow sounds as you travel over the snow indicating you may be on a hard wind slab.  Watch for any fresh drifts that may have formed over the last 24 hrs.  (Click here to check out recent avalanche activity on our avalanche list)

It was another quiet day in the backcountry yesterday with only one minor avalanche to note.  This was a glide avalanche in Broads Fork which is not surprising or uncommon for that area.  (Click HERE for photos)  Observations from Monday included some more wind drifting and lots of loose snow on the surface.  This faceted snow on the surface will be our focus over the next few storms as this could produce a weak interface with the next layer of new snow. 

Winds blew from the west northwest overnight in the 20 mph range with gusts into the mid 30s along the ridgetops and near 50 mph at the highest locations.  Ridgetop temperatures are in the low to mid 20s.

We should be at the peak wind speeds for today and they should decrease into the 10 to 15 mph range from the west along the ridges.  Ridgetop temperatures will start out in the low 20s and drop into the teens as the day goes on.  Skies will start out partly cloudy with increasing cloud cover and a chance of snow flurries late this afternoon.

A decent storm will start to affect the area tonight but not really get going until Wednesday.  This should be a 6 to 12 inch snow event from Ogden down to Provo with locally higher amounts in areas favored by a northwest flow.  Very cold temperatures may activate lake effect snow.  Snow densities should be quite light during this storm.

A long time fundraiser for the Utah Avalanche Center, the Banff Mountain Film Festival is coming back to town February 21st and 22nd at Kingsbury Hall.  Tickets will be available at Kingsbury Hall, Art-Tix, the Outdoor Rec Program at the U and REI.  For more info, call 581-8516.

Click here to check out our new online avalanche encyclopedia.

Early birds and snow geeks can catch our 6AM report at 364-1591.

Click HERE for a text only version of the avalanche advisory.

To have this advisory automatically e-mailed to you each day, click HERE. 

UDOT also has a highway avalanche control work hotline for Big Cottonwood, Little Cottonwood, and Provo canyons, which is updated as needed. 801-975-4838.

Wasatch Powderbird Guides did not get out on Monday and today, weather permitting, they will fly in Cardiff, Days, Silver, Mineral, American Fork and Cascade.  For more info, call 742-2800.

Please report any backcountry snow and avalanche conditions.  Call (801) 524-5304 or 1-800-662-4140, email uac@avalanche.org (uac@avalanche.org) or fax 801-524-6301.  The information in this advisory is from the U.S. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content.  This advisory describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.

Evelyn Lees will update this advisory by 7:30 Wednesday morning.  Thanks for calling.

 

This advisory provided by the Wasatch Cache National Forest, in partnership with: 
Utah Division of State Parks and Recreation, The Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center, Utah Department of Emergency Services and Homeland Security and Salt Lake County

DISCLAIMER: Above is information on each factor affecting todays' danger rating. All factors must be considered to develop a backcountry travel plan that will reduce your risk.
 


The post was created using an automated process maintained by First Tracks! Online.
 
February 15, 2006 - 7:14 am   Bottom Line Salt Lake, Park City and Provo area mountains: Today will be a day of rising avalanche danger.  The avalanche danger is MODERATE this morning on steep slopes with fresh or old drifts of wind blown snow.  As the snow accumulates this afternoon, the danger will become MODERATE on all slopes steeper than about 35 degrees.   

Bottom Line Ogden area mountains: The avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE on steep slopes with recent drifts of wind blown snow.  Natural avalanches are possible and human triggered avalanche probable.  Other steep slopes have a MODERATE danger. 

Lees

Links: Avalanche List Photos Profile List Weather Links Encyclopedia 24 Hrs The strong overnight winds have produced another batch of pockety hard wind drifts sitting on weak, sugary snow.  While strongest across the highest ridges, the winds have also been significant at both the mid and lower elevations, so the new wind drifts will be more wide spread this morning, both along the ridgelines and down in open bowls, around sub ridges, and at breakovers.  The stubborn hard slabs tend to break above you, and will soon be hidden beneath new snow.  In addition, as the snow piles up in your area, new soft wind drifts will form and be sensitive on steep slopes.    

24 Hrs The new snow is landing on a variety of old snow surfaces – east, south and west facing slopes are a mix of rough and smooth hard crusts and wind slabs, while there are widespread areas of weak surface facets in addition to wind slabs on the shady, northerly facing slopes.  The new snow will bond poorly to most of these old snow surfaces.  Of most concern are the shady slopes, where it may become possible to trigger slides from a distance later today or tomorrow.  So be very careful of what slope you are connected to, and avoid travel below and adjacent to steep slopes as the snow piles up. 

No significant avalanche activity was reported from the backcountry yesterday.  South of I-80, it will be a day of increasing avalanche danger with snow and wind in the forecast.  North of I-80, the avalanche danger is Considerable, and backcountry travelers need to be conservative.

A cold upper level trough is slowly settling southward into the Great Basin.  The trough stalled over northern Utah last night, and the Ogden and Logan area mountains received 6 to 10” of low density snow as of 6 am, with just a trace to the south.  Strong southwesterly winds are raking the ridgelines, with many stations reporting 25 to 35 mph averages.  Average speeds at the more exposed locations are 35 to 45 mph, with gusts in the 60’s and 70’s. 

The mid level trough that has been stalled over northern Utah will slowly sag southward today, reaching the Cottonwoods by late morning or early afternoon.  The accompanying band of heavy snow should drop 5 to 8” of snow today.  The southwesterly winds will remain strong this morning, before shifting to the northwest and decreasing into the 20 to 25 mph range this afternoon.  Temperatures will decrease throughout the day, dropping into the low teens at 8,000’ and to near zero at 10,000’.  A cold, moist northwest flow will continue through the night, with an additional 8 to 12” possible in the Cottonwoods, and 3 to 6” elsewhere.  A cold, moist unsettled flow will remain in place through the weekend, with periods of snow likely.   

Click here to check out our new online avalanche encyclopedia.

Early birds and snow geeks can catch our 6AM report at 364-1591.

Click HERE for a text only version of the avalanche advisory.

To have this advisory automatically e-mailed to you each day, click HERE. 

UDOT also has a highway avalanche control work hotline for Big Cottonwood, Little Cottonwood, and Provo canyons, which is updated as needed. 801-975-4838.

Wasatch Powderbird Guides flew in White Pine and Snake Creek yesterday, and weather permitting, they will fly in Cardiff, Silver, Days, Mineral, White Pine and American Fork.  For more info, call 742-2800.

Please report any backcountry snow and avalanche conditions.  Call (801) 524-5304 or 1-800-662-4140, email uac@avalanche.org or fax 801-524-6301.  The information in this advisory is from the U.S. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content.  This advisory describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.

I will update this advisory by 7:30 Thursday morning.  Thanks for calling.

 

This advisory provided by the Wasatch Cache National Forest, in partnership with: 
Utah Division of State Parks and Recreation, The Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center, Utah Department of Emergency Services and Homeland Security and Salt Lake County

DISCLAIMER: Above is information on each factor affecting todays' danger rating. All factors must be considered to develop a backcountry travel plan that will reduce your risk.
 


The post was created using an automated process maintained by First Tracks! Online.
 
February 16, 2006 - 6:59 am   The avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE on slopes steeper than about 35 degrees with recent drifts of wind blown snow.  This is just a small portion of the terrain, and drifts will be most widespread along the higher ridgelines, with only occasional drifts at the mid and low elevations.  Other slopes steeper than about 35 degrees have a MODERATE danger, with human triggered sluffs and a few soft slabs possible. 

Lees

Links: Avalanche List Photos Profile List Weather Links Encyclopedia 24 Hrs Wind will be the key to avalanche activity today.  The light new snow did fall on a weak layer, especailly on the shady slopes, but in most areas the new snow has not formed much of a cohesive slab.  However, along the highest ridges, the winds have been just strong enough to drift the snow into a slab that will be sensitive, especially in areas that received a foot or more of new snow.  There are also reports of some wind drifts at the mid and lower elevations, too.  Drifts on the shady slopes are sitting on weak faceted snow, so it may be possible to trigger slides from a distance in a few places. Out of the wind affected terrain, be prepared for loose sluffs on steep slopes

Also, hidden beneath the new snow are the old, hard wind drifts sitting on weak, sugary snow.  There may be a few places where you could still trigger one of these stubborn, hard drifts, and they may break out above you.

Minor sluffing was the only avalanche activity reported form yesterday. Yesterday’s cold front swept south through the area, leaving an unstable northwest flow behind it.  Snow continued overnight, but I am sorry to report that you may have more snow in your driveway than up in the mountains.  While snow totals easily topped a foot in the Ogden mountains, with a bit less in Little Cottonwood, many locations in Big Cottonwood, Park City and the Provo area mountains have storm totals of around 6” this morning.  The northwesterly winds have been reasonably well behaved, averaging 10 to 15 mph with gusts to 20 at most stations.  But of course, speeds across the highest peaks have been stronger, in the 20 to 25 mph range, with gusts in the 30’s.  Toe numbing temperatures are below zero this morning.  The light, 5 to 8% density snow, will let you feel the old crusts and tracks, especially in areas that received the lower snow amounts.  Best turns will be on shady slopes where there is soft snow beneath the new.

A moist flow over the area will produce light snow in the mountains this morning, with another 3 to 5” possible.  The winds will shift to the west by midday, and then southwest, and are forecast to decrease.  Temperatures will remain very cold, warming into the single digits along the ridgelines, and to near 10 at 8,000’.  A high pressure ridge will briefly move in over the area tonight and Friday before another cold, Pacific storm arrives for the weekend.

A long time fundraiser for the Utah Avalanche Center, the Banff Mountain Film Festival is coming back to town February 21st and 22nd at Kingsbury Hall.  Tickets will be available at Kingsbury Hall, Art-Tix, the Outdoor Rec Program at the U and REI.  For more info, call 581-8516.

Click here to check out our new online avalanche encyclopedia.

Early birds and snow geeks can catch our 6AM report at 364-1591.

Click HERE for a text only version of the avalanche advisory.

To have this advisory automatically e-mailed to you each day, click HERE. 

UDOT also has a highway avalanche control work hotline for Big Cottonwood, Little Cottonwood, and Provo canyons, which is updated as needed. 801-975-4838.

Wasatch Powderbird Guides flew in White Pine and Snake Creek yesterday, and weather permitting, they will fly in Cardiff, Silver, Days, Mineral, White Pine and American Fork.  For more info, call 742-2800.

Please report any backcountry snow and avalanche conditions.  Call (801) 524-5304 or 1-800-662-4140, email uac@avalanche.org or fax 801-524-6301.  The information in this advisory is from the U.S. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content.  This advisory describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.

I will update this advisory by 7:30 Thursday morning.  Thanks for calling.

 

This advisory provided by the Wasatch Cache National Forest, in partnership with: 
Utah Division of State Parks and Recreation, The Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center, Utah Department of Emergency Services and Homeland Security and Salt Lake County

DISCLAIMER: Above is information on each factor affecting todays' danger rating. All factors must be considered to develop a backcountry travel plan that will reduce your risk.
 


The post was created using an automated process maintained by First Tracks! Online.
 
February 17, 2006 - 8:36 am   A MODERATE danger exists on steep upper elevation terrain with recent deposits of wind drifted snow.  Human triggered slab avalanches are possible.  These will be more dangerous in the Ogden area mountains which received the most snow.  Terrain down off of the ridgelines has a mostly LOW danger.

Kobernik

Links: Avalanche List Photos Profile List Weather Links Encyclopedia 24 Hrs For today the main concern will be any fresh drifts that may have formed along the higher ridges from last nights winds.  The instability within the newest snow should settle out but with the addition of any wind blown snow there is a chance you could trigger an avalanche.  With continued cold temperatures, sluffing may still be an issue today as well.

The newest snow produced some avalanche activity on Thursday. Control work in the Cottonwood ski areas and highways produced shallow soft slab avalanches that were cracking out 100 to 150’ wide. Backcountry observers noted some cracking with the new snow with a few small slab avalanches triggered from ski cuts and cornice drops as well. It appears that there was a density change early in the storm that produced a weakness causing these slab avalanches and also the cracking backcountry travelers noted. MORE INFO  Sluffing of the new snow was also a concern as these would get big enough to knock a person off of their feet.  ACTIVITY PHOTO

Winds picked up somewhat last night blowing in the 15 to 20 mph range with gusts into the 30s along the ridgetops from the southwest.  They now show signs of slowing and should continue this trend through out the day.  Temperatures remain cold in the single digits at most locations.  The new snow from Wednesday was slightly inverted in density.

For today we’ll see mostly cloudy skies. Ridgetop temperatures will remain around 10 degrees or less. Ridgetop winds will start out in the 10 mph range from the southwest and decrease as the day goes on. A low pressure system will move into Nevada and start to feed moisture into our area mid day on Saturday in a cold southwest flow. Snow showers should continue through Sunday. Weather models show about a half inch of water with this system so if we’re lucky we’ll have another 6 to 12 inch snow event by the time it’s all finished.

A long time fundraiser for the Utah Avalanche Center, the Banff Mountain Film Festival is coming back to town February 21st and 22nd at Kingsbury Hall.  Tickets will be available at Kingsbury Hall, Art-Tix, the Outdoor Rec Program at the U and REI.  For more info, call 581-8516.

Click here to check out our new online avalanche encyclopedia.

Early birds and snow geeks can catch our 6AM report at 364-1591.

Click HERE for a text only version of the avalanche advisory.

To have this advisory automatically e-mailed to you each day, click HERE. 

UDOT also has a highway avalanche control work hotline for Big Cottonwood, Little Cottonwood, and Provo canyons, which is updated as needed. 801-975-4838.

Wasatch Powderbird Guides flew in Cardiff, Days, and American Fork. Today they’ll fly in Mineral, Cardiff, Days, Grizzly, American Fork, The Sessions and possibly White Pine if the clouds start to lower. For more info, call 742-2800.

Please report any backcountry snow and avalanche conditions.  Call (801) 524-5304 or 1-800-662-4140, email uac@avalanche.org (uac@avalanche.org) or fax 801-524-6301.  The information in this advisory is from the U.S. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content.  This advisory describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.

I will update this advisory by 7:30 Saturday morning.  Thanks for calling.

 

This advisory provided by the Wasatch Cache National Forest, in partnership with: 
Utah Division of State Parks and Recreation, The Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center, Utah Department of Emergency Services and Homeland Security and Salt Lake County

DISCLAIMER: Above is information on each factor affecting todays' danger rating. All factors must be considered to develop a backcountry travel plan that will reduce your risk.
 


The post was created using an automated process maintained by First Tracks! Online.
 
February 19, 2006 - 7:00 am   The avalanche danger is MODERATE on slopes steeper then 35 degrees with recent deposits of wind drifted snow.  Human triggered slab avalanches are possible.  The danger may rise to CONSIDERABLE if snow totals and wind speeds are higher then forecasted.

Kobernik

Links: Avalanche List Photos Profile List Weather Links Encyclopedia 24 Hrs For today our main concern will again be sluffing and the possibility of a slab avalanche in wind affected terrain.  With cold temperatures Wednesday’s snow has been slow to settle and with the addition of more light density snow the sluffs today have the potential to be quite large.  The few periods of wind over the last 24 hrs may have produced some areas where a person could trigger a slab avalanche.  This will be mainly confined to steep terrain along the upper ridgelines on northwest through northeast facing slopes.

Sluffing was the main concern from Saturday with no significant avalanche activity reported.  The gusty winds did transport some snow yesterday morning along the ridgetops but no one found any of these fresh drifts to be very sensitive.  (For more information on the current snow pack click HERE).

With the new snow that’s fallen in the last 24 hrs and a few periods of gusty winds along the ridges, the avalanche danger is on the rise.  24 hour snow totals as of this morning are averaging around 6 inches from Ben Lomond down to Timpanogus.  The upper ends of the Cottonwoods are pushing a foot in the last 24 hrs with just over a half inch of water and less lower in the canyons.  Higher elevation terrain around Park City picked up 7 or 8 inches of new snow.  Southerly winds blew Saturday morning in the 15 to 20 mph range gusting to around 30 then slowed in the afternoon.  There was another period of similar winds last night and now are in the 10 mph range from the southwest.  Temperatures are in the single digits to low teens at most mountain locations.

Today we’ll see snow showers throughout the day with an additional 4 to 8 inches of snow containing ¼” to ½” of water.  Ridgetop temperatures will remain cold in the single digits and ridgetop winds should behave and stay in the 10 to 15 mph range along the ridges.  Things should start to clear Monday morning with continued cold temperatures. 

Click here to check out our new online avalanche encyclopedia.

 

Early birds and snow geeks can catch our 6AM report at 364-1591.

Click HERE for a text only version of the avalanche advisory.

To have this advisory automatically e-mailed to you each day, click HERE. 

UDOT also has a highway avalanche control work hotline for Big Cottonwood, Little Cottonwood, and Provo canyons, which is updated as needed. 801-975-4838.

Wasatch Powderbirds did not get out on Saturday and probably won’t get out today but will go to American Fork and the Sessions if possible.  For more info, call 742-2800.

Please report any backcountry snow and avalanche conditions.  Call (801) 524-5304 or 1-800-662-4140, email uac@avalanche.org (uac@avalanche.org) or fax 801-524-6301.  The information in this advisory is from the U.S. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content.  This advisory describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.

Bruce Tremper will update this advisory by 7:30 Monday morning.  Thanks for calling.

This advisory provided by the Wasatch Cache National Forest, in partnership with: 
Utah Division of State Parks and Recreation, The Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center, Utah Department of Emergency Services and Homeland Security and Salt Lake County

DISCLAIMER: Above is information on each factor affecting todays' danger rating. All factors must be considered to develop a backcountry travel plan that will reduce your risk.
 


The post was created using an automated process maintained by First Tracks! Online.
 
February 20, 2006 - 7:06 am   The avalanche danger is mostly LOW with pockets of MODERATE  danger, mostly on slopes steeper then 35 degrees with recent deposits of wind drifted snow.  A long time fundraiser for the Utah Avalanche Center, the Banff Mountain Film Festival is coming back to town tomorrow night, February 21st and 22nd at Kingsbury Hall.  You can get tickets at Kingsbury Hall, Art-Tix, the Outdoor Rec Program at the U and REI.  For more info, call 581-8516.

 Forecaster: Bruce Tremper

Links: Avalanche List Photos Profile List Weather Links Encyclopedia 24 Hrs There are a few wind slabs within the new snow mostly along the upper elevation ridges.  As always, you should avoid steep slopes with recent wind drifts.

Although the snow remains mostly stable in all areas, yesterday a couple skiers were able to pop out some relatively small wind slabs on steep slopes about a foot deep and 30 feet wide.  One was on Miller Hill, south of Snowbird on a steep, shallow, rocky, north-facing slope.  There were two others that a skier was able to intentionally ski cut on Mt. Timpanogos in the Sundance backcountry on steep, wind drifted slopes (PHOTOS).  Also, you can still feel some slabby, punchy snow under the new snow where an old wind slab sits on some small-grained faceted snow.  Most of these seem content to stay in place, but there may be a few places where you could pop one of these out.  So continue to practice slope cuts and go one at a time. Finally, the snow does sluff fairly easily on steep slopes but they are mostly very soft and easy to manage.  If the sun does come out today, it should produces some localized, small sluffs on south facing slopes as they heat up in the sun.

The winter of 06 continues its march into the history book of legendary winters. Backcountry riding conditions are excellent, once again, with up to a foot of cold, light powder on a mostly stable foundation. To be fair, there are some niggling complaints about feeling the various crusts underneath but nothing that a month in Oregon won’t cure. There was also just a slight sun crust on south facing slopes yesterday. Temperatures are colder than yesterday with most of the automated mountain weather stations hovering around zero, so bring a down coat, warm mittens and a face mask or visor.

We will have very cold temperatures today, starting out around zero and rising to about 8 degrees on the ridge tops and into the mid teens down at 8,000’. Ridge top winds will remain fairly light, around 10 mph from the west and northwest. There’s a still lot of low level moisture with just enough westerly winds to stack it up against the mountains. This should produce very light snow showers and variable low-level clouds through much of the day but you will also see the sun poke through quite a bit as well, especially at higher elevations.

The extended forecast calls for continued cold with light winds for the next couple days and slowly warming by mid week. We don’t see any significant snow for the next week or so.

Click here to check out our new online avalanche encyclopedia.

 

Early birds and snow geeks can catch our 6AM report at 364-1591.

Click HERE for a text only version of the avalanche advisory.

To have this advisory automatically e-mailed to you each day, click HERE. 

UDOT also has a highway avalanche control work hotline for Big Cottonwood, Little Cottonwood, and Provo canyons, which is updated as needed. 801-975-4838.

Wasatch Powderbirds did not get out yesterday and if they can fly today, they will be in American Fork, White Pine and the Sessions.  For more info, call 742-2800.

Please report any backcountry snow and avalanche conditions.  Call (801) 524-5304 or 1-800-662-4140, email uac@avalanche.org (uac@avalanche.org) or fax 801-524-6301.  The information in this advisory is from the U.S. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content.  This advisory describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.

Drew Hardesty will update this advisory by 7:30 Tuesday morning.  Thanks for calling.

This advisory provided by the Wasatch Cache National Forest, in partnership with: 
Utah Division of State Parks and Recreation, The Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center, Utah Department of Emergency Services and Homeland Security and Salt Lake County

DISCLAIMER: Above is information on each factor affecting todays' danger rating. All factors must be considered to develop a backcountry travel plan that will reduce your risk.
 


The post was created using an automated process maintained by First Tracks! Online.
 
February 22, 2006 - 7:11 am   Today, the avalanche danger is MODERATE on slopes steeper than about 35 degrees with recent drifts of wind blown snow.  In the highest, windiest terrain, there are pockets of CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger, with natural avalanches and cornice falls possible.   Out of the wind affected terrain, the avalanche danger is mostly LOW, but long running sluffs are large enough to take you for a ride in the steepest terrain.   

Tonight is the last night to catch the Banff Mountain Film Festival at Kingsbury Hall. For more info, call 581-8516.

Lees

Links: Avalanche List Photos Profile List Weather Links Encyclopedia 24 Hrs Winds will continue to work their mischief today, blowing and drifting the snow into sensitive soft to medium hard slabs.  This morning, the stronger winds are affecting the Salt Lake mountains, so the drifts will be more widespread in this area.  The wind drifts will be most common along the ridge lines, but they will also form down in some open bowls and around sub ridges and gully walls.  These sensitive soft slabs will release easily with slope cuts, as will fresh cornices.  And while they will take a big trigger, it seems some of those old hard wind slabs might be coming back to haunt us, and if you trigger one, the slide will be significantly deeper and wider.    

Yesterday’s moderate winds were already stirring up trouble in the Ogden and Provo area mountains.  Several natural and one human triggered soft slab were reported. (Click here for photos and snow profile.)  These were up to a foot deep, with one about a 150’ wide and running over 1000’ in steep terrain.  In the less windy Salt Lake and Park City mountains, loose sluffs continued to be the reported activity, running up to 500’.  They were getting a bit too big to muscle your way out of, piling up 2 to 3’ of debris even without a terrain trap. 

Out of the soft slab/loose sluff pattern, there was a disquieting reminder of a potential problem to come.  A significant hard slab was triggered by a natural cornice fall along a ridgeline in the Ogden area mountains.  It was one finger hard slab, 3’ deep by 400’ wide.

A moist, northwest flow has brought mostly cloudy skies and a dusting of snow to the mountains.  Temperatures have warmed, and are in the teens below 9,000’ and the single digits at the higher elevations.  Unfortunately, the northwesterly winds have notched it up again along the ridgelines, with many stations reporting 15 to 20 mph averages, with gusts in the 30’s.  The most exposed locations have averages in the 40’s, with gusts in the 50’s.  The best riding conditions will be on wind sheltered, northerly facing slopes in wonderful powder.

A northwest flow over the region will bring mostly cloudy skies and light snow showers to the mountains today through Thursday.  The northwesterly winds will be persistent today, remaining in the 15 to 25 mph range across most ridgelines, with locally stronger speeds.  Temperatures will warm into the mid 20’s at 8,000’ and the mid teens at 10,000’.  Peeking into the future, high pressure should move in for a sunny weekend, with a storm on tap for early next week.

We will be giving a free Avalanche Awareness talk at the Sandy REI Thursday night at 7pm. 

Click here to check out our new online avalanche encyclopedia.

Early birds and snow geeks can catch our 6AM report at 364-1591.

Click HERE for a text only version of the avalanche advisory.

To have this advisory automatically e-mailed to you each day, click HERE. 

UDOT also has a highway avalanche control work hotline for Big Cottonwood, Little Cottonwood, and Provo canyons, which is updated as needed. 801-975-4838.

Yesterday, Wasatch Powderbirds flew in Cardiff, Mineral, Grizzly, Toledo SE and the Bountiful Sessions, and if they can fly today, they will be in White Pine, Cardiff, Days, Sliver, Grizzly, American Fork and the Sessions.  For more info, call 742-2800.

Please report any backcountry snow and avalanche conditions.  Call (801) 524-5304 or 1-800-662-4140, email uac@avalanche.org or fax 801-524-6301.  The information in this advisory is from the U.S. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content.  This advisory describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.

Bruce Tremper will update this advisory by 7:30 Thursday morning.  Thanks for calling.

This advisory provided by the Wasatch Cache National Forest, in partnership with: 
Utah Division of State Parks and Recreation, The Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center, Utah Department of Emergency Services and Homeland Security and Salt Lake County

DISCLAIMER: Above is information on each factor affecting todays' danger rating. All factors must be considered to develop a backcountry travel plan that will reduce your risk.
 


The post was created using an automated process maintained by First Tracks! Online.
 
February 23, 2006 - 7:35 am   Today, the avalanche danger is MODERATE on slopes steeper than 35 degrees with recent drifts of wind blown snow.  Out of the wind affected terrain, the avalanche danger is mostly LOW, but long running sluffs are large enough to take you for a ride in the steepest terrain.  Also, today there is a MODERATE danger of damp to wet, loose sluffs as they heat up in the afternoon sun. Forecaster: Bruce Tremper

Links: Avalanche List Photos Profile List Weather Links Encyclopedia 24 Hrs Strong winds from the northwest for the past two days have piled much of our super-light, cold-smoke powder into soft wind drifts, mostly at or above tree line, but occasionally down to 7,000’. Most of them are on south through east facing slopes, but they are cross-loaded into many other slopes as well. Wind slabs look smooth and rounded and often feel “slabby” or “punchy” (hard snow on top with softer snow underneath). As always, you should avoid all steep slopes with recent deposits of wind drifted snow. If you feel like you just have to muck around with them, then practice good slope cut techniques (which you can read about on our web site in our avalanche encyclopedia.) or belay yourself with a rope.

8 Hrs Watch out for damp to wet sluffs on steep south facing slopes as they heat up in the sun, especially in the afternoon. Yesterday, skiers were able to easily trigger many of these wind slabs but for the most part, they were quite soft, shallow and manageable.  Skiers in Snake Creek (south of Brighton) were able to kick off six different soft slabs and one person took a short ride on one of them (PHOTO).  Another skier kicked off one off on Cardiff Peak and all of the ski resorts reported localized, sensitive soft slabs.  Wind has been the main concern these past couple days. The strong winds have decreased overnight and they are blowing 15, gusting to 25 along most of the ridges from the northwest and 25, gusting to 40 on the highest elevation peaks. Ridge top temperatures have warmed 10 degrees from yesterday morning and are 10-15 degrees, headed for a high of around 20 degrees today. There’s still about a foot of very fine, light density snow but you need to be in wind and sun sheltered slopes today. Ridge top winds will blow from the northwest at 15-25 mph with ridge top temperatures rising to around 20 degrees. Down at 8,000’, the temperatures should rise to near 30. We have mountaintop clouds and light snow showers this morning, but they should burn off later in the day. Temperatures should continue to warm over the next several days and be near freezing on the ridge tops this weekend.

For the extended forecast, this weekend will be very warm with high clouds and strong southerly winds, which should finish off all our nice snow.  Then, we have a potentially significant storm for Tuesday and Wednesday with strong southwest winds, warm temprature and snow.

We will be giving a free Avalanche Awareness talk at the Sandy REI Thursday night at 7pm. 

The Banff Mountain Film Festival last night was sold out, which, I understand, broke the all-time record for attendance at any festival showing so far for the Banff series worldwide.  Congratulations, Salt Lake City.

Click here to check out our new online avalanche encyclopedia.

 

Early birds and snow geeks can catch our 6AM report at 364-1591.

Click HERE for a text only version of the avalanche advisory.

To have this advisory automatically e-mailed to you each day, click HERE. 

UDOT also has a highway avalanche control work hotline for Big Cottonwood, Little Cottonwood, and Provo canyons, which is updated as needed. 801-975-4838.

Yesterday, Wasatch Powderbird Guides did not fly and if they can get out today they will be in Cardiff, Mineral, Days, Silver, American Fork, the Sessions and possibly in White Pine.  For more info, call 742-2800.

Please report any backcountry snow and avalanche conditions.  Call (801) 524-5304 or 1-800-662-4140, email uac@avalanche.org (uac@avalanche.org) or fax 801-524-6301.  The information in this advisory is from the U.S. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content.  This advisory describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.

Brett Kobernik will update this advisory by 7:30 Friday morning.  Thanks for calling.



This advisory provided by the Wasatch Cache National Forest, in partnership with: 
Utah Division of State Parks and Recreation, The Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center, Utah Department of Emergency Services and Homeland Security and Salt Lake County

DISCLAIMER: Above is information on each factor affecting todays' danger rating. All factors must be considered to develop a backcountry travel plan that will reduce your risk.
 


The post was created using an automated process maintained by First Tracks! Online.
 
February 24, 2006 - 7:07 am   Today, the avalanche danger is MODERATE on slopes steeper than 35 degrees with recent drifts of wind blown snow.  Out of the wind affected terrain, the avalanche danger is mostly LOW.  Also, today there is a MODERATE danger of wet, loose sluffs as temperatures rise during the mid day.

Kobernik

Links: Avalanche List Photos Profile List Weather Links Encyclopedia 8 Hrs For today, we need to watch for two types of avalanching.  First, southerly facing slopes will heat up again and could produce some wet activity.  These slides will be in the form of point releases and probably won’t get real big but you will want to pay attention especially afternoon when temperatures will be the warmest.

24 Hrs Second, lingering shallow wind drifts may still be sensitive to the weight of a person.  You will most likely find these along the upper ridgelines on steep terrain with an easterly component.  On Thursday, I did find some drifts in the mid elevations on other aspects that had been cross loaded but these were not sensitive.  Just be aware that you may find these wind drifts today and make sure to approach them cautiously.  Watch for cracking as you travel which indicates a more sensitive wind slab that may avalanche if the slope is steep enough.

There was some avalanche activity on Thursday.  First, warmer temperatures and direct sun produced some wet point release slides on southeast through southwest facing slopes.  These were both natural and human triggered but didn’t get large enough to pose a great threat.  Next, on the colder aspects there were a few fresh wind drifts that released both naturally and by human triggers.  The natural activity was reported from the Ogden area with the largest reported as a class 2 avalanche that ran 600 vertical feet.  The human triggered slide was from east facing Pioneer Peak that surprised a couple of snowboarders.  It was around 35 feet wide, less then 12 inches deep and ran a couple hundred feet, no one was caught.

Under clear skies this morning, ridgetop temperatures are in the mid teens to low 20s and ridgetop wind speeds are 10 to 15 mph from the west with gusts to around 30 at the most exposed locations. We’ll see mostly clear skies with ridgetop temperatures in the mid 20’s and ridgetop winds from the west in the 10 to 15 mph range.  Saturday should be similar then temperatures warm a bit more for Sunday and Monday with windy conditions on Monday.  A storm is scheduled for Tuesday that should bring snow to most of the mountains of Utah.

Click here to check out our new online avalanche encyclopedia.

 

Early birds and snow geeks can catch our 6AM report at 364-1591.

Click HERE for a text only version of the avalanche advisory.

To have this advisory automatically e-mailed to you each day, click HERE. 

UDOT also has a highway avalanche control work hotline for Big Cottonwood, Little Cottonwood, and Provo canyons, which is updated as needed. 801-975-4838.

Yesterday, Wasatch Powderbird Guides flew in Cardiff, Mineral, Days, Grizzly, and American Fork.  Today they will be in Mineral, Cardiff, Days, Silver, Gobblers, White Pine, American Fork and Cascade.  On Saturday, they will not fly anywhere in the Tri-canyon area.  For more info, call 742-2800.

Please report any backcountry snow and avalanche conditions.  Call (801) 524-5304 or 1-800-662-4140, email uac@avalanche.org (uac@avalanche.org) or fax 801-524-6301.  The information in this advisory is from the U.S. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content.  This advisory describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.

Evelyn Lees will update this advisory by 7:30 Saturday morning.  Thanks for calling.



This advisory provided by the Wasatch Cache National Forest, in partnership with: 
Utah Division of State Parks and Recreation, The Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center, Utah Department of Emergency Services and Homeland Security and Salt Lake County

DISCLAIMER: Above is information on each factor affecting todays' danger rating. All factors must be considered to develop a backcountry travel plan that will reduce your risk.
 


The post was created using an automated process maintained by First Tracks! Online.
 
February 25, 2006 - 6:53 am   Today, the avalanche danger is mostly LOW.  There are pockets of MODERATE danger on slopes steeper than 35 degrees where it may still be possible to trigger an old drift of wind blown snow.  The avalanche danger will also increase to MODERATE on and below steep, sunny slopes with day time heating, where wet, loose sluffs will be possible.

There are several free automated avalanche beacon practice areas open, including one at Canyons, one on the by-pass road near Snowbird and one in the northwest corner of the lower lot at Solitude.  They are really easy to use, and its worth stopping for a quick practice session.

Evelyn Lees

Links: Avalanche List Photos Profile List Weather Links Encyclopedia 24 Hrs Today, there are still a few places where a person could trigger an old wind slabs on a steep slope.  Though small, they could easily knock you off balance, and if you’re in steep terrain, send you for a ride or off a cliff.  Dry sluffs can also be triggered on steep shady slopes.

8 Hrs On the steep, sunny slopes, it will be possible to trigger loose, wet sluffs as the day heats up and the snow gets damp and sloppy.  Again, the type of terrain you’re in matters – don’t get caught above cliffs or on very steep slopes where even a small sluff can send you for a ride. Avoid terrain traps such as gullies where even those undersized sluffs can pile up deeply.  In addition to the sunny slopes, the snow on mid and lower elevation shady slopes will also get damp today. With several days of heating, cornices are becoming sensitive and there is a greater chance for glide avalanches to release. 

A few small sluffs and one explosive triggered wind slab in a ski area (10” deep by 80’ wide, east facing, 10,200’) are the sum total of avalanches reported yesterday.  Also, sometime during the past 2 days, a natural cornice fall in Mineral Fork triggered a long running slab/sluff that went full distance and filled the creek bottom 8 feet deep. 

There is a strong feeling of spring in the air, with the sun high in the sky and warm daytime temperatures.  This morning, skies are clear, and mountain temperatures have cooled into the teens to low 20’s.  Winds are light, less than 15 mph at all stations.  If you tiptoe around old tracks, sun and wind damage, there is still fine dry powder to be found on the very shady, wind sheltered slopes.  The sunny slopes have a wide variety of supportable and breakable crusts, which soften with daytime heating.  A small arsenal of skin wax, sun screen, and other spring time accoutrements will help your day go more smoothly.

High pressure will strengthen across the region today and tomorrow, bringing warm temperatures and mostly sunny skies.  Highs today will be near 40 at 8,000’ and in the mid 20’s at 10,000’.  Winds will shift to the southwest and remain light, less than 15 mph.  Sunday will be warm and breezy.  The Tuesday night storm is looking a bit weaker on the latest model runs, but should still provide a small shot of snow, and will be followed by another storm late in the week.

Click here to check out our new online avalanche encyclopedia.

Early birds and snow geeks can catch our 6AM report at 364-1591.

Click HERE for a text only version of the avalanche advisory.

To have this advisory automatically e-mailed to you each day, click HERE. 

UDOT also has a highway avalanche control work hotline for Big Cottonwood, Little Cottonwood, and Provo canyons, which is updated as needed. 801-975-4838.

Yesterday, Wasatch Powderbird Guides flew in Cardiff, Mineral and Cascade.  Today they will not be anywhere in tri canyon area.  They will American Fork, Cascade, Lambs, and the Sessions.  For more info, call 742-2800.

Please report any backcountry snow and avalanche conditions.  Call (801) 524-5304 or 1-800-662-4140, email uac@avalanche.org or fax 801-524-6301.  The information in this advisory is from the U.S. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content.  This advisory describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.

Drew Hardesty will update this advisory by 7:30 Sunday morning.  Thanks for calling.

 





This advisory provided by the Wasatch Cache National Forest, in partnership with: 
Utah Division of State Parks and Recreation, The Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center, Utah Department of Emergency Services and Homeland Security and Salt Lake County

DISCLAIMER: Above is information on each factor affecting todays' danger rating. All factors must be considered to develop a backcountry travel plan that will reduce your risk.
 


The post was created using an automated process maintained by First Tracks! Online.
 
February 28, 2006 - 7:05 am   The avalanche danger remains MODERATE on any slope steeper than 35 degrees with recent deposits of wind drifted snow.  The avalanche danger will increase today and tonight.  Also, avoid steep areas where the snow is damp and mucky.

Kobernik

Links: Avalanche List Photos Profile List Weather Links Encyclopedia 24 Hrs The strong winds from the last 48 hours have formed some spotty hard and soft wind drifts that may be sensitive to the weight of a person and especially to the weight of a snowmobile.  The winds will continue for a good portion of the day and the new snow will cover up many of the obvious drifts that formed.  It would be best to avoid the steeper ridgelines for a few days to allow some time for the snowpack to adjust to these new drifts.  In some areas, these drifts have the potential to be very thick.

24 Hrs With the warm temperatures over the last few days, the lower elevation snow has become damp and manky.  It’s possible to initiate wet slides on steep lower elevation terrain.  With spring approaching, we need to start paying attention to terrain traps and steep convex rolls on a daily basis as the potential for slides will become more regular at lower elevations.

An observer reported an avalanche (Photo 1, Photo 2) that was triggered by some skiers who illegally left the Sundance ski area and went up to ski the Finger Chutes above the resort.  After the first skier had skied the slope, the second skier triggered a wind slab but was not caught.  It ran about 1000 feet vertical distance.  These folks were lucky to avoid a nasty ride and also law enforcement down below.  (Slide details)

As far as current snowpack conditions, warm temperatures and strong winds helped change most of our loose snow on the surface from surface hoar and near surface facets to a more friendly snow grain that won’t be as weak when we add snow on top of it.  However, many crusts have formed so we’ll need to pay attention to the initial bonding of the new snow we are expecting to receive today and tonight.  Warm temperatures and VERY windy conditions headline the news from Monday.  Mountain temperatures are above freezing at all but the highest locations with a light rain/snow mix at around 8,300'.  The wind event from over the last 48 hours may be the most notable of the season.  Gusts into the 70s & 80s at the highest locations might not grab your attention but speeds near 50 on Tom’s Hill should.  Tom’s is at an elevation of 8,500’ in Big Cottonwood.  Gusts into the 30s have also been recorded at the town of Alta.  The wind direction is generally from the southwest.  The snow surface is mostly wind scoured at higher elevations with warm grabby snow at lower elevations.  No wonder I only received one observation from the backcountry yesterday and it’s even questionable if this person was actually skiing.

Temperatures should start to cool soon and continue downward throughout the day finally getting into the mid 20s along the ridges by tonight.  Winds will continue to blow in the strong range for a good portion of the day from the southwest and slow somewhat tonight but will still be in the 30 mph range from a west southwest direction.  We’ll see mostly cloudy skies with some snow during the day which should pick up late this afternoon or evening.  Models are showing up to an inch of water and we expect 6 to 12 inches of snow by Wednesday morning.



Click here to check out our new online avalanche encyclopedia.

Early birds and snow geeks can catch our 6AM report at 364-1591.

Click HERE for a text only version of the avalanche advisory.

To have this advisory automatically e-mailed to you each day, click HERE. 

UDOT also has a highway avalanche control work hotline for Big Cottonwood, Little Cottonwood, and Provo canyons, which is updated as needed. 801-975-4838.

The Wasatch Powderbird Guides were in American Fork and Cascade on Monday and probably won’t get out today but if possible they’ll be in Cardiff, Days, Silver, Grizzly, White Pine and American Fork.  For more info, call 742-2800.

Please report any backcountry snow and avalanche conditions.  Call (801) 524-5304 or 1-800-662-4140, email uac@avalanche.org or fax 801-524-6301.  The information in this advisory is from the U.S. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content.  This advisory describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.

Evelyn Lees will update this advisory by 7:30 Wednesday morning.  Thanks for calling.



This advisory provided by the Wasatch Cache National Forest, in partnership with: 
Utah Division of State Parks and Recreation, The Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center, Utah Department of Emergency Services and Homeland Security and Salt Lake County

DISCLAIMER: Above is information on each factor affecting todays' danger rating. All factors must be considered to develop a backcountry travel plan that will reduce your risk.
 


The post was created using an automated process maintained by First Tracks! Online.
 
March 1, 2006 - 7:11 am   Above about 8,500’, the avalanche danger is MODERATE on slopes steeper than about 35 degrees, especially with recent deposits of wind drifted snow.  There is also a MODERATE avalanche danger for wet loose sluffs on steep slopes of all aspects below about 8,500’ and on steep sunny slopes as the day heats up.

Evelyn Lees

Links: Avalanche List Photos Profile List Weather Links Encyclopedia 24 Hrs At the upper elevations, the new snow wind drifts may be sensitive today.  These drifts will be along the ridgelines, but also off the ridgelines and cross loaded around terrain features such as gully walls and mid slope breakovers due to strong winds.  There may also be a few surprises out there – a few old buried wind drifts that could still be sensitive or a slab that breaks a few inches deeper into old dry snow.  So as always after a windy storm event, approach steep terrain with caution, and test your stability theories.  Jump on test slopes, do some quick pits, place careful slope cuts, and asses each steep slope individually.

24 Hrs While I expect the worst of the wet activity is over, it’s going to take a bit of time for the snow to cool and strengthen.  Avoid steep low and mid elevation slopes of all aspects, and especially stay off of slopes where a sluff could push you into a terrain trap such as a gully or flat road below a steep slope.  Wet loose sluffs may occur today on steep sunny slopes if the sun comes out and the new snow heats up rapidly. 

The heavy, persistent rain at the low elevations finally pushed the already warm snow pack over the edge.  Below about 8,000’ there were lots of natural wet loose sluffs yesterday, especially on north through east facing slopes. (Photo 1, Photo2, Photo 3) On the Park City side, “push-a-lanches” were starting to go to the ground in shallow snowpack areas at low elevations.  Explosive control work late in the day was able to pull out one wet slab, 100’ wide by 3’ deep, failing on wet facets on the ground, on an east facing slope at 8,000’.  Yesterday’s vigorous storm tapped into tropical moisture, resulting in an all day rain event below about 8,500’.  The cold front finally arrived around 5pm, dropping the snow line to the valley floor.  Above about 9,000’, 7 to 11” of dense, graupel laden snow fell in the Cottonwoods, with a water content of 1 to 1 ¾ inches.  The lower elevations of the Provo, Ogden and Park City side received one half to just over an inch of rain, with 3 to 5” of snow above about 8,000’, and locally more at the highest elevations.  Temperatures have cooled into the teens this morning.  Yesterday’s very strong southwesterly winds shifted to the northwest in the evening, and have decreased to generally less than 15 mph. 

Above about 9,000’ turning and riding conditions will be very good today, with the dense snow filling in the old tracks out of the wind scoured areas.  I would give the lower elevations a miss, due to the damp to wet snow, which may crusted in some areas.

The departing storm may leave a few clouds in its wake, but skies should clear by afternoon in most areas.  Winds are shifting to the west, and will decrease to less than 10 mph.  Temperatures will be near freezing at 8,000’ and in the upper teens at 10,000’.  Clear and cool tonight, with lows near 20.  A quiet weather day on Thursday, with winds becoming strong again on Friday ahead of the next storm system.



Click here to check out our new online avalanche encyclopedia.

There are several free automated avalanche beacon practice areas open, including one at Canyons, one on the by-pass road near Snowbird and one in the northwest corner of the lower lot at Solitude.  They are really easy to use, and well worth stopping for a quick practice session.

Early birds and snow geeks can catch our 6AM report at 364-1591.

Click HERE for a text only version of the avalanche advisory.

To have this advisory automatically e-mailed to you each day, click HERE. 

UDOT also has a highway avalanche control work hotline for Big Cottonwood, Little Cottonwood, and Provo canyons, which is updated as needed. 801-975-4838.

The Wasatch Powderbird Guides did not fly yesterday, today they’ll be in Cardiff, Days, Silver, Grizzly, White Pine, American Fork and Cascade or Bountiful Sessions.  For more info, call 742-2800.

Please report any backcountry snow and avalanche conditions.  Call (801) 524-5304 or 1-800-662-4140, email uac@avalanche.org or fax 801-524-6301.  The information in this advisory is from the U.S. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content.  This advisory describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.

Bruce Tremper will update this advisory by 7:30 Thursday morning.  Thanks for calling.

This advisory provided by the Wasatch Cache National Forest, in partnership with: 
Utah Division of State Parks and Recreation, The Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center, Utah Department of Emergency Services and Homeland Security and Salt Lake County

DISCLAIMER: Above is information on each factor affecting todays' danger rating. All factors must be considered to develop a backcountry travel plan that will reduce your risk.
 


The post was created using an automated process maintained by First Tracks! Online.
 
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