avalanche advisory

March 2, 2006 - 6:55 am   The avalanche danger is MODERATE on slopes with recent deposits of wind drifted snow and on graupel pools beneath cliffs.  There is also a MODERATE avalanche danger for wet loose sluffs and occasional wet slabs on any steep slope that gets wet and soggy, especially in the heat of the afternoon. You will find these mostly on south facing slopes and on all slopes below about 8,500’.

Forecaster: Bruce Tremper Links: Avalanche List Photos Profile List Weather Links Encyclopedia 24 Hrs Today, you can find a few more of these lingering wind slabs sitting on top of a weak layer of faceted snow, which formed during the clear weather in late February. You will find them mostly above about 10,000’ on shady slopes and also where graupel has slid off of cliff and pooled on less steep terrain below. 8 Hrs As the sun heats things up today, you can expect continued wet sluffs on steep, sun exposed slopes when they get soggy, especially near rock outcroppings. There may be some continued potential for deeper wet slabs at elevations below about 8,500’. As always, you should get off of and out from underneath slopes when you’re sinking into wet snow. Our intrepid Brett Kobernik posted a great story with photos on our web site about he and his partner’s misadventures with an avalanche in Mill B South yesterday in which one person took a short ride. It was a wind slab, which ran on a weak layer of faceted snow formed by the clear weather before this past storm and further overloaded by a pool of graupel coming off the cliffs above. A couple other people reported large collapses on this same layer on a couple other high elevation slopes yesterday as well. Also, yesterday there was the usual round of wet sluffs and occasional wet slabs on lower elevation slopes and south facing slopes. Avalanche control on the Park City side of the range produced a couple wet slabs going to 3’ deep to the ground with strong air blasts on steep slopes around 8,300’.

Yesterday, people were finding 3-6 inches of fast-riding, dense graupel on Styrofoam above about 9,500’, dust on crust between 9,500’ and 8,500’ and dust on breakable mush below 8,500’. The sun cooked down the south facing slopes and put a good crust on other sun-exposed aspects.

Today should be another beautiful, sunny day with ridge top temperatures near freezing and 8,000’ temperatures around 40. The ridge top winds will start to blow stronger from the south by this afternoon. On Friday, we will have strong southerly ridge top winds with clouds, which should pick up to 40, gusting to 60 on the exposed ridge tops by afternoon.We will have a quick-hitting cold front on Friday night and Saturday, which should give us just a few inches of snow, but hey, at least it will be windy.  Then, we have a rest day on Sunday with a much stronger storm for Tuesday through Thursday.



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.

Here is a great link to a web site on avalanche beacon information, created by a person who did independent research and testing of avalanche beacons.   http://beaconreviews.com/transceivers/index.htm

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 will fly today in Mineral, Cardiff, Days, Silver, White Pine, Mill Creek 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 (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 Kobrnik 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.
 
March 3, 2006 - 7:17 am   The avalanche danger is MODERATE on slopes steeper then 35 degrees with recent deposits of wind drifted snow.  At lower elevations out of the wind the avalanche danger will start out LOW but may increase to MODERATE if temperatures warm and loosen the snow enough.   

Kobernik

Links: Avalanche List Photos Profile List Weather Links Encyclopedia 24 Hrs Today, we again need to watch for wind slabs, both old and new.  It would not be surprising to find a drift that could avalanche today.  Some locations had a southeasterly component to the wind so you may find fresh drifts on some northwest facing slopes which may not usually have drifts form on them.  Winds did transport snow down lower in the drainages but the main place you will find any avalanching will be in higher terrain due to more snow available for transport.  Northeast through northwest facing slopes are the most suspect but remember that mountainous terrain can channel winds into many directions so pay attention to any drifting on all aspects.  Wind crusts and the rain crusts vary widely from place to place so continue to dig quick hand pits and use your ski poles to help you inventory variations in the snow. 8 Hrs The winds will probably keep temperatures in check on southerly slopes at the higher elevations but with a clear sky for most of the day today, watch for the snow to become damp on these slopes.  More importantly, with warmer temperatures over the last 24 hrs at the lower elevations, things may loosen up more rapidly in lower terrain.  If you find yourself punching through the entire snowpack into damp snow, be sure to avoid any steep slopes and terrain traps. The only significant avalanche activity from Thursday was a large cornice fall triggered from some skiers in the Wolverine Cirque.  It reportedly snapped a few small trees in its way down the slope but did not produce any avalanching once it impacted the lower portion of the slope.  I have noticed many cornices becoming quite large with a few breaking off naturally over the last week.  Approach these with caution.

The winds picked up on Thursday blowing the newest snow into drifts and crusts (PHOTOS).  Southwest winds blew in the 20 to 30 mph range along the ridgetops as well as getting into some of the lower portions of the drainages.  Winds are now in the 15 to 20 mph range with gusts to around 30.  Temperatures didn’t get warm enough yesterday to produce any significant avalanche activity but were quite warm getting up around freezing at 10,000’ and staying above freezing overnight below about 8000’.  Most locations are in the upper 20s to low 30s this morning.

We’ll see mostly clear skies for most of the day today with windy conditions from the southwest picking up as the day goes on.  Ridgetop temperatures will be in the upper 20s and gradually cool off this afternoon.  A storm will affect the mountains tonight into Saturday with the chance of 3 to 7 inches of snow.  Winds speeds will remain in the 20 to 30 mph range from the southwest for most of this event.  Temperatures cool into the teens by Saturday morning with clearing, then warming temperatures on Sunday.



Here is a great link to a web site on avalanche beacon information, created by a person who did independent research and testing of avalanche beacons.   http://beaconreviews.com/transceivers/index.htm

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 were in White Pine, Cardiff, Days and the Sessions yesterday and today will be in Mineral, Cardiff, Days, Silver, Grizzly, Millcreek, White Pine, 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 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.
 
March 4, 2006 - 7:03 am   The avalanche danger is MODERATE on slopes steeper then 35 degrees in areas that received more than about 6” of new snow, or on steep slopes with recent deposits of wind drifted snow.  Off of the steeper terrain, the avalanche danger is generally LOW.

Evelyn Lees

Links: Avalanche List Photos Profile List Weather Links Encyclopedia 24 Hrs The strong winds over the past few days sandblasted most slopes down to hard, icy sun and rain crusts, that are especially bullet proof below about 9,500’.  The new snow will bond poorly to these crusts and to easily sluff, especially where the winds have drifted the new snow.  Early morning reports from resort cat drivers include natural sluffs running on steep, upper elevation wind drifted slopes.  With the crusts as bed surfaces, any slide or sluff you do get going today will run further and faster than normal, entraining a bit of extra snow for a larger debris pile.  And it may still be possible to find and trigger an old hard wind drift up high.

An additional problem today will be the potential for a “slide for life” on steep slopes.  If you do slip, get knocked off your feet or caught in a sluff, the slick underlying crusts will make it very hard to dig in and stop your ride.  

No avalanche activity was reported from the backcountry yesterday. The quick hitting cold front is rapidly moving east of the area this morning, leaving about 4 to 8” of surprisingly light, 6% density snow in its wake.  Temperatures have dropped into the low teens at 10,000’.  The strong southeasterly winds that scoured the range yesterday have shifted to the west and decreased to less than 20 mph, except for a few higher peaks where hourly averages are still over 30 mph.

Almost all slopes will have that dust on crust feel, with only the upper elevation northerly facing slopes having any old soft snow beneath the new.  The lower angle slopes may have the best turning, as you will feel the old crusts less.

The cold front is rapidly moving east of the area this morning.  A few lingering snow showers should give way to mostly sunny skies later today.  The westerly winds will decrease, to less than 15 mph.  Temperatures today will be in the upper 20’s at 8,000’ and the low teens at 10,000’.  A short lived ridge of high pressure ridge will bring mostly sunny skies and warmer temperatures on Sunday, followed by another weak Pacific storm Monday night.  The weather will remain cooler and unsettled next week, with several more snow events possible near the end of next week and beyond.

Here is a great link to a web site on avalanche beacon information, created by a person who did independent research and testing of avalanche beacons.   http://beaconreviews.com/transceivers/index.htm

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 to check out our new online avalanche encyclopedia.

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, and today will be in Mineral, Cardiff, Days, Silver, Grizzly, Millcreek, White Pine and the Sessions.  Weather permitting, they will have 2 helicopters operating in the Tri-Canyon area 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.

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.
 
March 7, 2006 - 7:19 am   Most areas have a MODERATE danger especially lower elevations and areas that received less snow.  A CONSIDERABLE danger exists on upper elevation slopes steeper then 35 degrees and in areas that received around a foot of snow.

Kobernik

Links: Avalanche List Photos Profile List Weather Links Encyclopedia 24 Hrs There are two distinct patterns that we need to address today.  The first is the new snow that fell overnight.  Some areas are just finishing up a period of very intense snowfall with rates up to 4 inches an hour of very light density snow.  I would expect some natural activity to have occurred out of this period which may be mostly loose snow avalanching.  This natural activity will probably be over with by the time most folks get up into the high country but the snowpack will still need a little time to adjust to the new snow load.  Most of the avalanches today will involve the new snow.  Watch for any cracking which indicates the presence of a slab which is a more dangerous avalanche condition.  Use test slopes to tweak on the snow checking for weakness within it, or, at the interface with the old snow.  Slope cuts should be an effective tool for dealing with the new snow today. 

24 Hrs The second concern is avalanches breaking into older snow.  Below about 8500 feet there is a very stout rain crust that will not allow failure below it.  Once you get up into the 9000 foot range, things get more complex with various rain and wind crusts, graupel layers and older faceted snow as well.  The higher you go, the more likely you are to find a spot where you may trigger an avalanche breaking into older snow especially on the most shaded north aspects.  With the addition of the newest snow, the possible size of these slides is getting a bit scary.  MORE INFO

No avalanche activity reported from Monday. The mountains of northern Utah received a good dose of snow overnight.  Totals are around a foot in the Ogden area mountains, 8-10 inches along the Park City ridgeline, over a foot in upper Big Cottonwood, around 8” in upper Little Cottonwood, and around 3-5 inches in the Provo area mountains.  Temperatures are decreasing and currently are in the low 20s along the ridges.  Ridgetop winds were from the southwest on Monday in the 20-30 mph range late in the day and are now switching to the west northwest with speeds in the low teens with occasional gusts into the 20s.  The highest peaks still show gusts into the 40s.

The majority of the snow has fallen and should taper off to showers during the day with a few inches of snow accumulation possible.  Ridgetop temperatures will drop into the upper teens and ridgetop winds will be from the northwest in the 10 mph range.  Wednesday we should see partly cloudy skies then another good shot of snow is expected on Thursday with more chances through the weekend.

Here is a great link to a web site on avalanche beacon information, created by a person who did independent research and testing of avalanche beacons.   http://beaconreviews.com/transceivers/index.htm

 

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 to check out our new online avalanche encyclopedia.

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 get out yesterday and if possible will be in 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 (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 8, 2006 - 7:11 am   The avalanche danger is MODERATE today on slopes steeper than 35 degrees.  Travelers will be able to trigger loose sluffs and soft slabs, especially on any steep slope with fresh wind drifts, and on steep sunny slopes if the sun comes out.  There will be an increasing avalanche danger tonight and tomorrow due to strong winds and more snow in the forecast.

Evelyn Lees 

 

Links: Avalanche List Photos Profile List Weather Links Encyclopedia 10 Hrs Today, it will still be possible to trigger a few sluffs and soft slabs in steep terrain, so always be thinking about the consequences of the terrain you’re in.  There is the potential for two factors to increase the avalanche danger today – wind and sun.  If you’re at the higher elevations, the winds are just strong enough to blow the snow into sensitive drifts that a person could trigger on a steep slope.  The sun will cause problems today if the clouds thin or skies clear.  The surface snow will rapidly heat on steep sunny slopes, and may heat on low and mid elevation shady slopes with thin cloud cover.  Once the snow heats up, it will be easy to trigger damp sluffs.  And finally, if you’re traveling in upper elevation, northwest through easterly facing terrain, be aware there are isolated areas where slide could release on a deeper weak layer.

Yesterday, natural avalanche activity consisted of loose sluffs and a few soft slabs on all aspects, with the largest slab about 150’ wide.  Human triggered activity mirrored the natural activity – easily triggered sluffs on slopes of about 40 degrees or steeper, and just a few soft slabs.  Most of these slides were running within the new snow, but on a few southerly facing slopes that had been recently scoured by the winds, they were running on the old slick ice crusts.   Most of these new snow instabilities were strengthening by afternoon, due to warming temperatures and a bit of sun.

An additional 2 to 5” of low density powder fell over night, and storm totals in the Ogden, Salt Lake and Park City mountains add up to 10” to 20”, with the higher amounts concentrated in upper Big Cottonwood canyon.  The Provo area mountains received less, with storm totals of about 8”.  Temperatures are in the teens and low twenties this morning.  Wind information is minimal due to computer problems, but winds are from a northerly direction, and have increased in the last 6 hours.  10,000’ winds are around 10 mph, with gusts to 20, and across the highest, 11,000’ peaks, averages are near 20 mph, with gusts in the 30’s.  Turning and riding conditions will be very good in light settled powder at the higher elevations, with very thick snow below about 8,500’.

The cold, moist northerly flow over the area will gradually shift to the southwest tonight.  For today, light snow showers this morning and this afternoon, with periods of clearing and direct sun possible at times.  Highs will be in the low 20’s at 8,000’ and the mid teens at 10,000’.  The northerly winds will generally be in the 10 to 20 mph range, with a period of stronger winds this morning across the highest peaks.  The winds will shift to the southwest tonight and become strong ahead of the cold front which ishould arrive around noon Thursday.  8 to 12” of snow is possible from this fast moving storm, and unsettled weather, with periods of snow, is expected through the weekend.

Here is a great link to a web site on avalanche beacon information, created by a person who did independent research and testing of avalanche beacons.   http://beaconreviews.com/transceivers/index.htm

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 to check out our new online avalanche encyclopedia.

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, Days, Lanmbs Canyon and the Bountiful sessions.  Today, weather permitting, they will be in Cardiff, Days, Silver, Mineral, 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.

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.
 
March 9, 2006 - 7:05 am   The avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE today on slopes steeper than 35 degrees, especially with recent drifts of wind blown snow.  Backcountry travelers will be able to trigger loose sluffs, soft slabs and wind drifts on many steep slopes, especially at the upper elevations.  Natural avalanches are possible, so use careful route finding today, and avoid travel beneath steep slopes.

Evelyn Lees

Links: Avalanche List Photos Profile List Weather Links Encyclopedia 10 Hrs Sensitive wind drifts will be the main problem today, both those formed yesterday and today’s new drifts.  The wide range of recent wind directions will have drifted snow onto slopes of many aspects, with drifting most widespread on north through east through south facing slopes.  Out of the wind affected terrain, sluffs and soft slabs will be possible on steep slopes, especially during periods of very heavy snow fall.  Today’s snow is sitting on yesterday’s couple inches of fluff, and will move easily in many places.

24 Hrs We also continue to be worried about a couple faceted weak layers now buried one to two feet deep, particularly a layer of mixed loose graupel and facets, sometimes associated with a thin crust.  Each storm is overweighting this weak layer a bit more, creating the potential to release a deeper, wider slide, possibly triggered from a distance.  There are only isolated areas where you could trigger this layer, most wide spread on mid and upper elevation, northwest through easterly facing terrain.

Yesterday, backcountry travelers triggered few more loose sluffs, with the two largest on southeasterly facing slopes.  They were slow moving, but running long distances on the crusts.   The northerly winds also created a few problems, blowing the snow into soft drifts that were becoming more sensitive by the end of the day, especially along the higher ridgelines.

The cold front is racing through northern Utah this morning, and should reach the Salt Lake mountains by 9 am.  Ahead of the front, snow is falling on a southwesterly flow, with 24 hour new snow totals (including yesterday’s fluff) around 4 to 8”.  Winds have been a problem over the past 24 hours – blowing yesterday from the north to northwest, switching overnight to the southwest.  Hourly averages across many ridges have been in the 15 to 25 mph range, with gusts commonly in the 30’s and 40’s.  Temperatures are generally in the teens this morning.  Turning and riding conditions will be excellent today in the deepening powder, especially in wind sheltered areas.

The fast moving, vigorous cold front has all but arrived.  A period of heavy snow fall, strong gusty winds, and even lightning should make for an exciting morning.  Snow fall will become showery this afternoon, with snow totals of 6 to 12” expected by evening. The southwesterly winds will shift to the northwest with frontal passage, with strong gusts possible.  Average speeds will be in the 15 to 30 mph range.  Temperatures today will be in the low 20’s at 8,000’ and near 10 at 10,000’.  A cold, unsettled pattern is expected Friday through the weekend, with mostly cloudy skies, light winds, and periods of light snow.

Here is a great link to a web site on avalanche beacon information, created by a person who did independent research and testing of avalanche beacons.   http://beaconreviews.com/transceivers/index.htm

There are several free automated avalanche beacon practice areas open, including one at Canyons, one on the by-pass road near Snowbird, one in the northwest corner of the lower lot at Solitude, and one at Nobletts Trail head in the western Uintas.  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 to check out our new online avalanche encyclopedia.

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 yesterday and will not fly today due to weather.  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 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.
 
March 10, 2006 - 6:49 am   UDOT will do control in Little Cottonwood Canyon at 6:00 am and Provo Canyon this morning at 7:00 am but the road should open quickly after that.The avalanche danger is MODERATE today on slopes steeper than 35 degrees, with recent deposits of wind drifted snow.  There is also a MODERATE danger of damp to wet avalanches on steep, sun-exposed slopes as the strong sun quickly warms up a cold, dry snowpack.Forecaster: Bruce Tremper

Links: Avalanche List Photos Profile List Weather Links Encyclopedia 24 Hrs Yesterday's widespread soft slab activity probably settled out overnight so there will probably be just pockets of lingering wind slab hazard today, mostly along the wind exposed ridges from the strong northwest wind yesterday.  On many of these wind-exposed ridges, the wind slabs are stiff enough to break above you.  Clues include smooth, rounded snow that feels slabby and often cracks under your weight.  So be sure to practice good slope cut techniques and avoid terrain with bad consequences.

8 Hrs The second avalanche problem today will be damp avalanches on steep sun-exposed slopes as the strong March sun quickly heats up the cold, dry snow.  For instance, today is not a good day to be on the south face of Superior Peak.

The most basic avalanche-truth is that snow is just like people, it doesn’t like rapid change.  And sure enough, the extremely rapid loading rates from new snow and wind-deposited snow made the snow very cranky and spontaneous riots broke out everywhere.  It produced widespread natural and human triggered avalanches on almost all steep slopes above about 9,000’.  Fortunately, the slabs were so soft that they posed little hazard unless you were in terrain with bad consequences.  Most avalanche geeks had a very fun day with extremely hair-trigger avalanches that broke at your feet and seldom above you.  (PHOTOS) Two most notable human triggered slides:  One party triggered a sizable sluff on the steep, south facing slope of Little Superior and it came within 500 feet of the road. (We should remind people, you are responsible for the safety of others below you, especially above a road.)  The second avalanche of note: a couple skiers triggered a soft slab on the south face of Reynolds Peak in Big Cottonwood Canyon, 1-2’ deep, 150’ wide and it ran 800 vertical feet.

Yesterday was a very wild and very fun day for avalanche geeks.  The intense cold front blasted through in the mid morning, which put down 6-or-more inches of snow in an hour or two with strong, gusty wind.  It was very light, 5% water-weight snow, which adds up to storm totals of 20-30 inches in the Salt Lake area mountains and 1-1.5 feet elsewhere.  The snow is very light. Temperatures are cold—in the single digits.  Skies should be clear to partly cloudy.  Yes, the call-in-sick-to-work meter is nearly pegged out this morning.  Wind and sun-sheltered slopes will be the hot ticket today.

Today the big, cold low pressure is rotating around us, leaving us stranded in the doldrums in the middle.  Ridge top winds will be very light and variable with ridge top temperatures in the single digits and temperatures down at 8,000’ will be in the 20’s.  Skies should be clear to partly cloudy with afternoon clouds boiling up as the sun heats things up.  Saturday looks like another calm, cold, partly cloudy day.  We may get a couple more weak shots of snow on Monday and Tuesday. Here is a great link to a web site on avalanche beacon information, created by a person who did independent research and testing of avalanche beacons.   http://beaconreviews.com/transceivers/index.htm

 

There are several free automated avalanche beacon practice areas open, including one at Canyons, one on the by-pass road near Snowbird, one in the northwest corner of the lower lot at Solitude, and one at Nobletts Trail head in the western Uintas.  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 to check out our new online avalanche encyclopedia.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 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 (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 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.
 
March 11, 2006 - 6:55 am   The avalanche danger is MODERATE today on slopes steeper than 35 degrees, with recent deposits of wind drifted snow.  There is also a MODERATE danger of damp to wet avalanches on steep, sun-exposed and lower elevation slopes especially if we see more clearing then expected.

Kobernik

Links: Avalanche List Photos Profile List Weather Links Encyclopedia 24 Hrs For today, wind slabs will again be our main focus.  Note that the winds have picked up and are from an unusual southeast direction.  Don’t be surprised to find an avalanche in wind exposed terrain again today.  Continue to probe the snow with your pole feeling for hollowness beneath the surface.  Watch for stiff wind textured snow and pillowy looking drifts.

8 Hrs During this time of the year, wet activity is almost always somewhat of a concern especially after any new snow.  Today, lower elevations will again be suspect.  Stay out of terrain traps and away from steep slopes as things start to warm.  Also, many higher elevations were not affected from heating on Friday which means they are still waiting for their first period of heating which is the time they’ll be the most sensitive.  Watch these slopes during any clearing that happens today. Our epic winter in the backcountry continues with good stability but it’s not quite “anything goes” conditions.  While seasoned veterans remark that this is the best winter they can remember as far as ski conditions and snow stability, it was interesting watching them carefully probing the snow and digging hand pits yesterday, trying to gain any clues they could about possible slab conditions that had formed from recent winds.  Careful slope cuts and sending one person at a time was the norm.  And folks did find some avalanching.  (Photos)  These avalanches involved wind drifted snow from Thursday in the upper elevation terrain on various aspects.  They were 8 to 18” deep with the widest one about 100 feet wide.  Also, I noted on my way out of a lower elevation drainage that some snowshoers were able to initiate small wet slides involving the newest snow that had become damp from daytime heating.  It appears that they were intentionally riding these small slides downhill which is not the wisest practice.

This period of unseasonably cool temperatures has been a real treat for snow lovers.  With temperatures in the teens to low 20s on Friday, southerly facing and lower elevation slopes were the only ones that were affected by heating.  Winds remained light from the north during the day yesterday but have switched to the southeast and picked up into the 20 to 30 mph range with a few stronger gusts.  It’s currently overcast with some light snow in the mountains.

Winds will blow in the moderate category from the south or southeast.  Temperatures will again be unseasonably cool in the teens and low 20s.  We’ll see cloudy skies with occasional breaks and also chances for snow flurries with minor accumulations possible.  Sunday will be fairly similar.

Here is a great link to a web site on avalanche beacon information, created by a person who did independent research and testing of avalanche beacons.   http://beaconreviews.com/transceivers/index.htm

 

There are several free automated avalanche beacon practice areas open, including one at Canyons, one on the by-pass road near Snowbird, one in the northwest corner of the lower lot at Solitude, and one at Nobletts Trail head in the western Uintas.  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 to check out our new online avalanche encyclopedia.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 were in Cardiff, Days, and American Fork and today, weather permitting they’ll hit Mineral, Cardiff, Days, Silver, White Pine, American Fork and Millcreek.  There may be two helicopters in the Tri Canyon area 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 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.
 
March 14, 2006 - 7:19 am   Today is a day of increasing avalanche danger.  The avalanche danger is generally MODERATE this morning on steep slopes with recent drifts of wind blown snow and on steep sunny slopes as the snow heats up.  The avalanche danger will rise to CONSIDERABLE later today on steep wind drifted slopes as the drifts deepen and widen.  If you can carefully avoid wind and sun affected terrain, the avalanche danger is generally LOW.

Evelyn Lees

Links: Avalanche List Photos Profile List Weather Links Encyclopedia 24 Hrs Today's sun and moderate to strong southerly winds will be rapidly changing the landscape.  There is almost limitless, light snow available for transport, and the moderate to strong southerly winds will be blowing the snow into sensitive drifts that will be easy to trigger on steep slopes.  While soft, they will still be large enough to carry and bury a person.  Natural avalanche may be possible.  Look for and avoid the new drifts both along the ridges, and off the ridge lines where they will be cross loaded around gully walls, sub ridges and steep breakovers.

10 Hrs Clear skies, strong sun and warming temperatures may combine to give us a brief wet slide cycle until the clouds move in later today.  The cold snow will be sensitive to the rapid heating,  and it may be easy to trigger sluffs and shallow soft slabs on steep sunny slopes and lower elevation shady slopes.  It may even be possible for a few natural wet sluffs to occur, so avoid travel beneath steep sunny slopes

Avalanche activity reported from the Salt Lake and Provo mountains yesterday was of numerous natural loose snow and very shallow soft slab avalanches running early in the morning, with similar sluffs and shallow soft slabs easily triggered with ski cuts later in day.  These were on most aspects, on slopes of about 40 degrees or steeper.  A few deeper pockets were triggered, 1 to 1 ½ feet deep and up to 80’ wide, including one on an east facing, lower roll over at 8600' and a few 2’ deep by 150’ wide slides released by control work.

Today, a combination of sun and wind will crash the powder party.  The southerly winds have already increased into the 25 to 30 mph range across the higher peaks favored by southwest flow, with gusts to near 40.  More sheltered stations have speeds in the teens, with gusts in the mid 20’s.  Skies are clear, and temperatures are once again in the single digits and low teens.  Yesterday’s cloud cover varied drainage to drainage, so while most aspects will have epic powder this morning, a few slopes were heat affected yesterday.  But get the goods fast, as the sunny slopes will rapidly go “off” and wind damage will increase through out the day. 

A ridge of high pressure will slide east of the area today as another storm system heads into the western Great Basin tonight.  Skies will be mostly sunny this morning, with increasing clouds and a chance for flurries late in the day.  The southerly winds will increase into the 25 to 30 mph range across the ridgelines, with higher speeds across the tallest peaks.  Temperatures will warm today into the mid 30’s at 8,000’ and the upper teens at 10,000’.  4 to 8” of snow are possible from this next storm, with the heaviest precipitation after midnight around frontal passage.  A break on Thursday, with another small shot of snow possible Friday night.

Here is a great link to a web site on avalanche beacon information, created by a person who did independent research and testing of avalanche beacons. http://beaconreviews.com 

There are several free automated avalanche beacon practice areas open, including one at Canyons, one on the by-pass road near Snowbird, one in the northwest corner of the lower lot at Solitude, and at the Nobletts parking area on the Mirror Lake highway.  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 to check out our new online avalanche encyclopedia.

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 Cardiff, Days, Silver, Grizzly, American Fork and maybe 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 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 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 15, 2006 - 7:09 am   The avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE on all slopes steeper than 35 degrees above about 9,000’.  The angerous wind drifts are most widespread on northwest through easterly facing slopes, and many are hidden beneath the new snow.  Human triggered slides are probable and natural avalanches possible, so avoid travel in avalanche runout zones below steep slopes.  Backcountry travelers need excellent route finding and snow evaluation skill, and should carry beacons, shovels and probes, and carefully follow safe travel procedures. Constantly reevaluate the weather conditions - if you are in an area where intense snowfall rates or strong winds continue longer than expected this morning, the avalanche danger may rise briefly rise to HIGH.

Evelyn Lees

Links: Avalanche List Photos Profile List Weather Links Encyclopedia 10 Hrs The multiple wind directions have created wind drifts on a variety of aspects and elevations.  While the drifts are most widespread on upper elevation ridgelines, the strong winds have also deposited snow at the mid elevations, down into open bowls, and drifted it around gully walls, sub ridges and steep breakovers.   People will need to travel very cautiously in the backcountry, avoiding today’s new wind drifts and yesterday’s drifts that hidden beneath the new snow.  The old drifts will be stubborn and want to break above you.  Many slopes will be scoured, but travel a few steps in the wrong direction and you’ll be standing or riding on a dangerous wind drift.  In addition, there are a few deeper weak layers of facets and crusts that no one trusts, and it may be possible for a few slides to step down into these deeper layers. 

Yesterday’s strong southerly winds rapidly created soft and hard drifts or slabs, with the cold light density snow below as the weak layer.  A natural avalanche cycle in upper elevation, wind effected terrain began by 9:30 am in the Salt Lake mountains, followed by activity in many other areas.  Not too many people were traveling in the windiest terrain, but reported slides included naturals in Lime Light, Main Days, Wolverine Peak into Wolverine bowl, Ben Lomond, the Y Couloir, and Little Pine with an intentional skier triggered slide in East Bowl of Silver.  Slides averaged 1 to 2’ deep, 100 to 300’ wide, with northerly through easterly facing slopes above about 9,000’ the most active.

Yesterday, someone cranked the wind dial to high, and forgot to turn it off.  Strong, southerly winds continued through midnight, with many locations averaging 25 mph, with gusts in the 40’s to 60’s.  With the cold front’s arrived shortly after midnight, the winds shifted to the west and northwest, and decreased slightly into the 15 to 25 mph range with gusts in the 30’s and 40’s.  Temperatures are dropping; back down into the teens and single digits.  About 4 to 8” of new snow has fallen.  Wind and sun damage and avalanche danger should have backcountry travelers seeking lower angle, wind sheltered, shady slopes for turning and riding today.

Moderate to heavy snow should continue through mid morning, with an additional 3 to 5 inches possible.  Snow will taper off to light showers by noon as the storm moves east of the area.  Winds will gradually decrease today, into the 15 to 20 mph range from the west.  Temperatures will be in the mid 20’s at 8,000’ and in the low teens at 10,000’.  High pressure will build in across the region tonight, with cloudy skies and an increasing southwest flow developing on Thursday.  Another storm system will affect the area Friday through the weekend.

An initial report from the Snowbasin backcountry incident can be found here.Here is a great link to a web site on avalanche beacon information, created by a person who did independent research and testing of avalanche beacons. http://beaconreviews.com 

 

There are several free automated avalanche beacon practice areas open, including one at Canyons, one on the by-pass road near Snowbird, one in the northwest corner of the lower lot at Solitude, and at the Nobletts parking area on the Mirror Lake highway.  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 to check out our new online avalanche encyclopedia.

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 will probably not fly today. If they can possibly fly today, they will be in the Northern Powder circuit 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 (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.
 
March 16, 2006 - 7:10 am   The avalanche danger is MODERATE on all slopes steeper than 35 degrees with pockets of CONSIDERABLE on the more extreme, upper elevation terrain. UDOT will conduct avalanche control in Stairs Gulch in Big Cottonwood Canyon this morning at 8:00 am but the road should open up quickly afterward.Forecaster: Bruce Tremper

Links: Avalanche List Photos Profile List Weather Links Encyclopedia 24 Hrs I expect that most of the instabilities within the new snow will have settled out overnight.  Still, I’m suspicious about all the recent wind and snow and I’m sure there are a few pockets that you can pop out, especially on the upper elevation, wind exposed, steep slopes.  If they do break beneath Tuesday’s wind slabs, they will be big avalanches—around 2-3 feet deep and they will likely break above you.  So be sure to practice all your safe travel ritual like one-at-a-time and practice good slope cut techniques.Also, the ridge top winds should blow from the southwest today around 10-15 mph with higher gusts and they will create some localized, fresh wind drifts along the wind exposed ridges.  As always, you should avoid any steep slope with recent wind drifts. 8 Hrs If we get sun today, we will have more damp to wet sluffs on the steep southerly-facing slopes Not surprisingly, yesterday morning’s intense snowfall and wind produced a widespread cycle of sluffs and occasional soft slab avalanches within the new snow on most steep slopes. (PHOTOS) I was happy to see that they were not breaking deeper beneath the stiff wind slabs created by Tuesday’s very strong wind and I hope that trend will continue today.  Yesterday morning’s cold front blasted through with snowfall rates of several inches per hour.  It quickly laid down a foot to a half of snow in the north part of Salt Lake City, and the Cottonwood Canyons with about 4 inches in the Provo and Ogden area mountains.  With many of the roads closed in the morning and trail breaking difficult, many of the popular slopes did not see any traffic even after the skies cleared in the afternoon.  Riding conditions remain excellent on the sun-sheltered slopes but the sun exposed slopes got a thin sun crust on them yesterday.

Today should be a rest day with high clouds and ridge top winds from the southwest 10-15 mph and ridge top temperatures around 19 degrees.  Down at 8,000’ the temperatures should rise to the mid 20’s.  For the next several days, we have a large trough diving mostly south of us, which should wrap the moisture around it and bring our flow up from the south with clouds and occasional snow showers starting on Friday and continuing through about Wednesday.

An initial report from the Snowbasin backcountry incident can be found 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.
 
March 17, 2006 - 7:08 am   This morning most areas have a LOW avalanche danger.  However, the avalanche danger is MODERATE on upper elevation northwest through northeast facing slopes steeper than 35 degrees with recent deposits of wind drifted snow.  The danger will also increase to MODERATE at lower elevations as the snow becomes damp from daytime heating.  You will need to watch high elevation southerly slopes if we see some clearing this afternoon as well.

Kobernik

Links: Avalanche List Photos Profile List Weather Links Encyclopedia 24 Hrs For today we will want to watch for any fresh drifts that formed late Thursday and last night.  You will mainly find these along the upper elevation ridgelines on northerly facing slopes.  8 Hrs Today we will also want to watch for damp and wet activity at the lower elevations.  Avoid steep lower elevation slopes and terrain traps as the snow becomes moist throughout the day. Cloud cover today should keep a lid on solar heating on high elevation southerly facing slopes but if it does break you will need to watch for activity here as well.  No new avalanche activity was reported from Thursday so let’s take a look back at the significant weather events that shaped this week’s snowpack.  Last weekend we received a shot of light density snow that then got whipped into drifts on Tuesday from a period of strong southerly winds.  This produced a small natural avalanche cycle.  Wednesday the mountains received another shot of snow especially the Cottonwoods where 14 to 20 inches of snow fell in a very short period of time which produced another natural avalanche cycle.  By Thursday, the new snow had settled and the wind drifts from Tuesday were staying in place. Temperatures warmed Thursday making the lower elevation snow become damp but left the upper elevations with cold loose snow that was starting to drift as the winds picked up in the afternoon which brings us up to now. 

Ridgetop winds picked up from the south Thursday afternoon blowing in the 20 mph range with gusts into the 30s.  They appear to be slowing somewhat now with ridgetop temperatures in the low 20s.  Under mostly cloudy skies, snow showers are occurring in the mountains with accumulations of 1 to 2 inches.  The snow surface is a mix of settled powder, sun crusts, wind crusts and wind drifts depending on elevation and aspect.

A low pressure trof will affect Utah through the weekend bringing mostly cloudy skies with periods of snow.  Today ridgetop temperatures will be in the low to mid 20s with ridgetop winds from the southwest in the 10 to 15 mph range.  A few more inches of snow accumulation is possible this morning.  We may see a period of clearing this afternoon.  Winds pick up slightly late this afternoon and tonight and taper off again Saturday morning. 

A completed report on the Taylor Canyon accident near Snowbasin will be updated by late this morning and can be found 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’ll 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.
 
March 18, 2006 - 6:59 am   A MODERATE danger exists on slopes steeper then 35 degrees with recent deposits of wind drifted snow.  The danger of wet avalanche activity will also rise to MODERATE as temperatures warm up during the day.

Kobernik

Links: Avalanche List Photos Profile List Weather Links Encyclopedia 24 Hrs For today, yet again our main concern will be wind drifted snow that may crack out under the weight of a person.  The moderated wind speeds coupled with last nights snow may have formed some drifts again along the ridges.  Also, yesterday’s drifts are less then 24 hours old so it may be possible to still trigger one of these under the fresh snow making a deeper avalanche.  You will find these wind slabs mainly on northwest through east facing slopes.

8 Hrs With warmer daytime temperatures this time of the season we always need to watch for damp and wet activity especially at lower elevations.  Also, upper elevation southerly slopes must be watched if there are any periods of clearing during the day that may rapidly heat the snow. Any new snow that we receive is very sensitive to warming especially the first time it becomes damp. 

Avalanche activity from Friday included small and manageable fresh wind slabs from slope cuts.  This was a fairly widespread theme from observers yesterday.  Most slides were under 40 feet wide and 4-8 inches deep with a couple up to a foot deep.  These were mainly confined to the upper ridgelines.  Lower elevations also had some natural wet activity.  Observers noted that some steep chutes and terrain traps had spooged out late in the day.

Winter continues.  The mountains received another shot of light density snow early last night putting down about 6 inches in the Ogden, Salt Lake and Provo mountains.  Another band of precipitation was affecting the Provo mountains and the southern end of the Salt Lake mountains over the last few hours but is tapering off now.  Yesterday and last night as well, ridgetop winds were blustery from the south in the 15 to 20 mph range with gusts into the 30s.  Ridgetop temperatures on Friday made it into the upper 20s and are currently in the low 20s.

Wind speeds have dramatically decreased over the last few hours and should stay in the 5 to 15 mph range from the south for most of the day today.  Ridgetop temperatures will again be in the mid 20s and we could see snow showers during the day today along with mostly cloudy skies.  Snow should start to fall more consistently tonight and continue through most of Sunday.  This system is looking somewhat better then it was yesterday and it now looks like we could see 10 to 14 inches of snow be Sunday evening.  Lower elevations and the valleys should get a good amount also.  Another storm is still shaping up for mid week.

Here is a great link to a web site on avalanche beacon information, created by a person who did independent research and testing of avalanche beacons. 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 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.
 
March 19, 2006 - 7:05 am   A CONSIDERABLE danger exists on all mid and upper elevation slopes steeper than 35 degrees.  Human triggered avalanches in the storm snow will be probable on a wide array of aspects.  Natural avalanches may also start to become more likely with continuing precipitation.   Those without good route finding and avalanche skills should stay on and below gentler terrain.

Hardesty

   

Links: Avalanche List Photos Profile List Weather Links Encyclopedia 24 Hrs The danger will continue to rise today with the expected heavy snowfall today and tonight.  Watch for cracking in the new snow on steep slopes of all aspects.  Cornice drops, test slopes, slope and switchback cuts will all give excellent clues to instability.  If you’re in steep terrain today in areas that have received the most snow, expect to trigger avalanches up to 1-2’ deep, potentially breaking deeper into older faceted snow.  24 Hrs If you’re in steep terrain today in areas that have received the most snow, expect to trigger avalanches up to 1-2’ deep, potentially breaking deeper into older faceted snow.  The faceted snow formed on a variety of aspects at the mid and upper elevations, but are most pronounced on west, north, and east facing slopes.   

Just about everybody and their dog found sensitive soft slabs on steep slopes yesterday.  Most were 12-16” deep and about 50-100’ wide, with a few outliers up to 200’ wide.  They were most common in areas that saw the brunt of the early morning southerly winds and/or the most snowfall.  In the lower elevations, warming temperatures and rain pulled some debris out of some northerly facing chutes and gulleys.  Of significant interest is a deep slab avalanche that ripped out in upper Big Cottonwood Canyon.  The storm snow, southerly winds, and possibly a natural cornice fall pulled out the hard slab below the steep rocky cliffs gunner’s left of the West Bowl of Silver Fork.  It broke 2-3’ deep and 300’ wide, running 400’, reportedly failing on faceted snow formed around the turn of the month.  One of our observers sent in a photo from a camera phone and a crown profile.  

And still winter continues.  The Wasatch picked up another 4-6” from Ogden to Provo overnight and it’s still snowing.   And it’ll continue to snow through tonight.  Winds are light and variable with temperatures in the upper teens and low twenties.  Storm totals are now about 12-16” with densities just below 10%, despite a few waves of lunar-lander shaped graupel.  “Sun breaks”, as they’re called in the Pacific Northwest, intermittently crusted many slopes on the southern end of the dial, but they should now be buried by 4-8” of snow. 

The slow moving storm will keep the engine going through tonight.  12-20” can be expected through tomorrow morning, but much depends on the slow track of the Low pressure system.  Winds will remain light and variable until tonight when they’ll likely turn northwesterly.  8000’ temps will be in the mid-twenties with ridgetop highs in the mid to upper teens.  We’ll get a quick break Monday with the next good-looking storm arriving Tuesday.

Here is a great link to a web site on avalanche beacon information, created by a person who did independent research and testing of avalanche beacons. 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 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.
 


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March 20, 2006 - 7:24 am   A MODERATEdanger with the storm snow will linger on through today in the steepest terrain that received the most snow.  Naturals are not expected and the instabilities of yesterday will be much more stubborn and pockety.  If the sun comes out for any amount of time, watch for the danger of wet activity to jump to MODERATE on all sun exposed slopes.  If the southwesterly winds pick up earlier than expected, watch for a batch of freshly blown wind drifts along the lee of ridgelines and breakovers.

Hardesty Links: Avalanche List Photos Profile List Weather Links Encyclopedia 8 Hrs Due to time, settlement, and warming temperatures, many, but not all, of the instabilities in the snowpack of the central and northern Wasatch will have healed. You could trigger many soft slabs at will yesterday, but today they’ll be more stubborn, pockety and much less widely distributed. Safe travel protocol and the usual combat techniques in the backcountry will still be required.   

8 Hrs If the sun comes out for any amount of time, watch for the danger of wet activity to jump to MODERATE on all sun exposed slopes.  High snowfall rates produced a localized shallow natural cycle in the higher terrain on a variety of aspects in the Tri-Canyons yesterday, with most 1’ deep and less than 100’ wide. The cycle wrapped up in the mid a.m., but travelers prodded many more into moving with cornice drops and ski cuts as the stability was on the rise.  By the afternoon, heating dampened many south facing slopes, resulting in at least one healthy unintentionally triggered wet sluff in mid-Big Cottonwood Canyon. 

Things were much more interesting in Provo, at least on the north side of Provo Canyon. Saturday’s light rain/precipitating slush up to about 9500’ produced a facet/crust layer due to what we call melt layer recrystallization. As you may recall from Avalanche 101 (or turn to page 128 in your textbooks – or check out our encyclopedia for faceting.), the freezing process jacks the metamorphism into overdrive, faceting the grains just above and below the newly formed crust.  Now we have a crust (bed surface), faceted snow (weak layer), a slab (new storm snow), and whallah-just like that, a field day with both remote and sympathetically triggered avalanches.  Most (another photo) were 8-12” deep and some up to 200’ wide, and often triggered up to 200’ away. (See also ‘remote’ and ‘sympathetic’ triggers in the encyclopedia.)

Skies are partly to mostly cloudy this morning with the mountains picking up only an additional inch or two overnight. Bruce’s analogy of the swirling brontosaurus is difficult to forget, and seems once again apropos for this exiting storm system. The winds remained light and variable during the event while 1-2’ of snow fell in the higher terrain. Temperatures are in the upper single digits and mid-teens. Except for the sunny aspects, riding conditions are sweet. Intermittent snow showers will follow in the wake of the exiting storm system off to the east. Brief ridging will develop this afternoon ahead of the next weakening storm system due to arrive tonight into tomorrow. Winds today will generally be light and variable with mountain temps in the upper teens to upper twenties. We’ll have mostly to partly cloudy skies and maybe an additional accumulation of an inch or so. The southwest winds should pick up into the 20mph range later this afternoon. Tuesday’s storm looks like a 4-7” event with high pressure set for the remainder of the week. The next system moves through late in the weekend.

Here is a great link to a web site on avalanche beacon information, created by a person who did independent research and testing of avalanche beacons. http://beaconreviews.comEarly 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 grounded yesterday, and if they can get out today will be in AF and White Pine, with a weekend swap to be in Silver Days Cardiff and Grizzly Gulch.  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.
 


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March 22, 2006 - 7:02 am   On steep, sunny, east through south through westerly facing slopes, the avalanche danger will rapidly rise to MODERATE with sun and day time heating.  If we get enough direct sun, the danger may even rise to CONSIDERABLE in the Provo area mountains and other similarly steep terrain.  Long running, natural wet loose sluffs could occur, so avoid travel on and below steep sunny slopes as the snow heats up.  On steep, northerly facing slopes, there are still a few places where a person could trigger a sluff or shallow slab avalanche.

Links: Avalanche List Photos Profile List Weather Links Encyclopedia 10 Hrs The main avalanche problem today will be wet loose sluffs triggered by heating from direct sun.  If the skies clear as forecast, I expect the sun to rapidly heat the snow, and an active day of both human triggered and natural sluffs is possible on steep sunny slopes.  Once the damp snow gets moving, it has the potential to run fast and far on a crust bed surface, and entrain snow for significant debris piles.  The sluffs may also step down beneath the crust, for a slightly deeper, wider slab avalanche.

Yesterday’s avalanche activity followed the recent pattern: a brief natural cycle of new snow loose sluffs and shallow soft slabs during the snowfall, followed by a period of easily human triggered sluffs and shallow soft slabs, with the snow rapidly stabilizing as the day went on. (photos and info)  As usual, the longest running, most serious slides were in the Provo area mountains, due to the continuously steep terrain.  A few slides from control work in the Ogden mountains broke out deeper, taking out two storms worth of snow.  If you head to the steep, shady slopes today, there are still a few isolated places where you could trigger a sluff or shallow slab, especially along the highest ridges or any where the wind drifts the snow. 

All good things must come to an end, and the high pressure ridge moving into the Great Basin today will finish the seemingly endless string of powder days.  Skies are partly cloudy this morning, winds are light from the north, and temperatures are in the teens to low 20’s.  Monday night’s 6 to 14 inches of snow added a final layer to the almost bottomless powder on shady, northerly facing slopes above about 9,000’.  On all other aspects and at lower elevations, you’ll be feeling the old crust beneath, and even bump into a few new crusts from yesterday’s sun.  With mixed spring snow conditions, don’t forget the skin wax and scrapper.

The high pressure ridge building into the Great Basin will remain over the area through early Saturday.  This morning’s clouds should steadily decrease throughout the day, with temperatures reaching near 40 at 8,000’ and upper teens at 10,000’.  The northerly winds will remain light, with gusts above 15 mph only at the highest elevations.  Lots of sunshine and a steady warming trend through Friday, with the next chance for snow Saturday night.

Here is a great link to a web site on avalanche beacon information, created by a person who did independent research and testing of avalanche beacons. 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 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.
 


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March 23, 2006 - 7:07 am   The avalanche danger is MODERATE today.  This includes wet activity on all aspects at lower elevations as well as southeast through west facing aspects at higher elevations.  This also includes pockets along the ridges where you might find a lingering cold snow slab avalanche waiting to be triggered on northerly aspects.

Kobernik

Links: Avalanche List Photos Profile List Weather Links Encyclopedia 8 Hrs For today the main concern will be wet activity as temperatures warm during the day.  With cold overnight temperatures this danger is low this morning but will start to become active late morning into the afternoon.  Stay clear of steep slopes and runout zones when you find yourself in damp, mucky “frosting like” snow.  Stay out of lower elevation terrain traps as the day goes on.

Despite fairly warm temperatures and damp snow on Wednesday, wet avalanche activity was minimal.  (PHOTO)  More significant were a number of human triggered soft slab avalanches that happened along the upper ridgelines.  Experienced people recognized suspect areas and were able to purposely release these slabs with slope cuts.  People less experienced could easily have been caught off guard.  These slides were 12 to 18 inches deep, 40 to 50 feet wide and running 400 to 500 feet vertical.  The largest was wider then 50 feet and described as a larger avalanche that you wouldn’t want to get caught in.  At least one skier did go for a ride when he triggered the remaining snow above a previously ski cut avalanche.

Warm temperatures on Wednesday made the snow become damp on all aspects up to around 9,000’ or better.  Temperatures overnight dropped back well below freezing and are in the low teens to low 20s.  Ridgetop wind speeds were fairly slow from the west northwest on Wednesday but still transported some snow along the upper elevation ridges.  Currently, winds are from the northwest at less then 10 mph with gusts only to 15 mph at 11,000 feet.

Upper elevation moisture will produce high clouds today.  10,000 foot temperatures will warm a bit more then yesterday and be in the upper 20s to near 30 and will reach around 40 degrees at 8,000 feet.  Ridgetop winds will be from the northwest in the 5 to 10 mph range.  High pressure with warmer temperatures will continue Friday and Saturday with a storm system affecting the area late Saturday to early Sunday which currently looks like it could produce 4 to 8 inches of snow.

Here is a great link to a web site on avalanche beacon information, created by a person who did independent research and testing of avalanche beacons. 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 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.
 


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March 24, 2006 - 7:01 am   The avalanche danger will rapidly increase to MODERATE with daytime heating, and may reach CONSIDERABLE, with human triggered avalanches probable and natural avalanches possible on steep slopes of most aspects and elevations.  Cornices are sensitive, and may break back further than expected.  So, as the snow heats up, avoid travel on and below steep slopes.

Evelyn Lees

Links: Avalanche List Photos Profile List Weather Links Encyclopedia 10 Hrs The weather is creating a predictable spring time avalanche pattern.  The avalanche danger is low very early in the morning, and rapidly rises with daytime heating.  So if you’re heading into the backcountry today, expect the same widespread wet loose sluffs and shallow slabs on steep slopes as the snow warms.  With the significantly warmer overnight temperatures, the snow may heat up faster today.  If we get just the right combination of thin, high clouds, warmer temperatures and light winds, the snow on the northerly facing slopes will also heat up today, with natural and human triggered avalanches possible.  Cornices are getting sensitive, and may break back further than expected. 

Yesterday was a noisy day in the backcountry, with numerous wet loose sluffs and a few shallow slabs running, many initiating off of rock bands.  Natural slides in the south facing paths of Little Cottonwood were long running and produced significant debris piles.  One slide was out of the ordinary pattern – a very large natural occurred in the Wellsville’s sometime in the past few days that was over 1,000’ wide and 4 to 6’ deep.  So if you’re heading up north, the danger is a bit different. 

High pressure continues to dominate the weather, and temperatures are a solid 10 degrees warmer this morning than 24 hours ago.  Under mostly cloudy skies, current readings are in the 20’s to low 30’s.  The winds remain light, less than 15 mph from the southwest.  Yesterday’s sun and warm temperatures baked the snow on most slopes, and any last remnants of dense powder will be on upper elevation, very shady northerly facing slopes.  All other slopes are crusted, but will rapidly soften with daytime heating.

The high pressure ridge will slowly shift to the east today, with a cold front crossing the area Saturday night.  For today, mostly cloudy skies this morning, with thinning clouds and partial clearing this afternoon.  Temperatures will rapidly warm into the upper 40’s at 8,000’ and the mid to upper 30’s at 10,000’.  The southwesterly winds will gradually increase today, into the 15 to 20 mph range across the higher peaks by late this afternoon.  Mostly cloudy skies and strong winds forecast for Saturday, with a vigorous spring cold front blasting through Saturday night. 

Here is a great link to a web site on avalanche beacon information, created by a person who did independent research and testing of avalanche beacons. 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.
 
March 25, 2006 - 6:56 am   The avalanche danger is MODERATE today on slopes steeper than 35 degrees with fresh drifts of wind blown snow and on steep slopes with damp snow where human triggered sluffs are possible. Cornices are sensitive, and may break back further than expected or from a distance. 

Evelyn Lees 

Links: Avalanche List Photos Profile List Weather Links Encyclopedia 24 Hrs Most of the old snow surface is damp or crusted, but the strong winds will manage to find snow to blow around, creating isolated wind drifts.  Watch out for and avoid these dense drifts on steep slopes.  Some may be hard slabs, which have a tendency to break out above you after you are several turns down the slope.  Cornices could still be sensitive, breaking back further than expected. 

24 Hrs Only a few people were traveling around in the backcountry yesterday, but the observations I did receive were of damp snow activity on the shady northerly facing slopes and at the lower elevations.  Both natural and easily human triggered sluffs and shallow wet slabs up to 60’ wide were reported, some of which were far running.  The warm overnight temperatures will have kept the snow surface warm, and it will still be possible trigger damp loose sluffs today on a variety of steep slopes, including those facing north and at the lower elevations.  These sluffs will be most dangerous in terrain where getting knocked off your feet could take you for a ride off a cliff or push you into a terrain trap such as a gully.

See avalanche problem #2 for yesterday's avalanche activity. It is going to be a blustery day in the mountains. A strong, southerly flow is developing ahead of an approaching cold front.  Ridgetop winds are in the 15 to 25 mph range, with several of the highest peaks averaging 30 with gusts to 40.  The winds are forecast to keep increasing throughout the day, reaching “knock-you-off-your-feet” speeds by mid afternoon.  Under partly cloudy skies, 10,000’ temperatures are in the upper 20’s, with low 30’s common at 9,000’.  Challenging and variable would be a polite way to describe the backcountry snow surface conditions.

An energetic spring cold front will rapidly move across northern Utah this evening, with 6 to 10” of snow possible.  Ahead of the front, there will be increasingly strong southerly winds, with average ridgeline speeds reaching 30 to 40 mph, with gusts over 50 mph common.  50 mph sustained speeds with gusts in the 70’s are likely in the most exposed terrain.  10,000’ temperatures will remain near 30 today, before dropping into the mid teens tonight after frontal passage.  8,000’ highs will be in the mid 40’s.  The dynamic frontal passage may be worth staying awake for tonight, with the possibility of brief heavy snow, strong winds and lightning.  After the front comes through, winds will unfortunately remain strong from the west and northwest through the night.  High pressure with rapidly warming temperatures will build across the area late Sunday into Monday, with another storm impacting the area mid week.

Here is a great link to a web site on avalanche beacon information, created by a person who did independent research and testing of avalanche beacons. 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 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.
 
March 26, 2006 - 7:12 am   Most areas have a MODERATE danger today however, with the windy wild card I do need to mention that there are pockets that have a CONSIDERABLE danger.  Some of the fresh drifts have the potential to be large which ups the consequences if you were to trigger one.  The strong winds will make the distribution spotty with most likely places to trigger these on northeast through southeast facing slopes and on the east side of terrain features but watch for wind affected snow on other aspects as well.  There will also be a MODERATE danger of wet avalanche activity at lower elevations and high elevation southeast through west facing aspects as temperatures warm today.

Kobernik

Links: Avalanche List Photos Profile List Weather Links Encyclopedia 24 Hrs Yesterday’s wet snow surface should be frozen up pretty good underneath the new snow.  The main concern for today will be fresh wind drifts on top of the old snow surface with the wild card being the strong winds.  Moderate wind speeds from a constant direction almost guarantees a predictable wind slab formation however strong wind speeds from varying directions is much harder to predict which is what we are dealing with today.  The fact is we’ve had new snow accompanied by winds so you should expect any wind affected area to crack out until things are proven otherwise.  Pillowy looking drifts should be obvious.  Listen for hollow sounds under foot while traveling.  If you come across areas that are wind scoured down to the old crust, consider where the new snow has been blown to.  With strong winds many of these new drifts could be quite stout allowing you to stay on top of them but be cautious of these as they may release once you are out on to the middle of them.

8 Hrs The new snow will be sensitive to warming especially the first time or two it becomes damp so as soon as you notice a change in the snow, start thinking wet avalanche activity and adjust your actions accordingly.

No avalanche activity reported from Saturday. Winds continue to blow this morning but have switched from the southwest to the northwest still averaging 20 to 25 along the ridges with gusts into the 60s at the highest locations.  The mountains of northern Utah received around 7 inches of snow overnight that is fairly evenly distributed between the Ogden, Salt Lake, Uinta and the Provo mountains.  Temperatures are in the teens to low 20s.

Chances for snow will continue to decrease this morning.  Strong west winds will continue for a few hours then start to taper off toward noon.  Skies will be partly cloudy.  Ridgetop temperatures will get into the mid 20s.  Monday will be partly cloudy with ridgetop high temperatures into the 30s.  Another storm will affect the area Tuesday into Wednesday that looks like it will produce another 6 to 12 inches of snow.

Here is a great link to a web site on avalanche beacon information, created by a person who did independent research and testing of avalanche beacons. 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.
 


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