avalanche advisory

U

Utah Avalanche Center

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November 15, 2006 - 7:05 am   The avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE on northwest through easterly facing slopes above about 9,000’, steeper than about 35 degrees.  Large human triggered avalanches are possible, and can be triggered on the slope or remotely from a distance, so also avoid travel below steep slopes.  At mid and low elevations and the on sunny slopes that had no preexisting snow prior to last weekend’s storm, the avalanche danger is LOW.  Alta and Snowbird resorts will be closed to uphill traffic today due to avalanche control work. 

Evelyn Lees

Links: Avalanche List Photos Profile List Weather Links Encyclopedia 24 Hrs There is a very distinct pattern to yesterday's avalanches: they were all above about 9,200’, on the shady northwest through easterly facing slopes, and failed on sugary, weak facets at or near the ground.  This nasty weak layer formed on slopes where there was snow left from the early September and October storms.  Many slopes in the backcountry did not slide naturally, and are just waiting for a trigger.  While the snow may be a bit more stubborn today, it will still be possible to trigger one of these large slides to the ground.  Stay off of and out from under these shady, upper elevation slopes. 

Yesterday, there were natural, skier and explosive triggered avalanches throughout upper Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons, all failing on faceted snow near the ground.  An outstanding companion rescue effort saved the life of a skier in upper Silver Fork yesterday.  After skiing West Bowl, the party was climbing back to the ridgeline on a more northerly facing slope, when the slope fractured.  One skier was totally buried for about 10 minutes and unconscious when dug up, but his condition rapidly improved.  Brett Kobernik has compiled a preliminary accident report, which is posted on the web.  There were also three large slides in Grizzly Gulch along the north facing Patsy Marley ridgeline.  At least one was triggered remotely and was 1-2’ deep and 400’ wide.   Some slides were long running yesterday, a few initiated on lower angle slopes, and many natural and explosive triggered slides were large, piling up 3 to 5” of debris.  The activity was most widespread at the higher elevations, above about 10,000’. There were reports of widespread cracking and collapsing.   

Under mostly clear skies, temperatures have dropped into the teens this morning, with slightly cooler air pooled in some valley bottoms.  The northwesterly winds have finally decreased, and are generally less than 10 mph, with speeds in the low 20’s across the highest peaks.  When the snow finally tapered off yesterday afternoon, the two day storm totals were fairly uniform throughout the range - 10 to 15” of dense, wind compacted snow.

An upper ridge will bring warmer and drier weather today.  Highs will be near 40 at 8,000’ and in the upper 20’s at 10,000’.  Winds will be from the northwest, generally in the 5 to 15 mph range, with averages 10 to 20 mph across the highest terrain.  Increasing clouds tonight, with a weak cold front pushing into the area tomorrow, bringing a few inches of wet snow.  Light precipitation is also possible on Friday and Saturday. 

If there is anything we should know about, continue to let us know by calling (801) 524-5304 or 1-800-662-4140, email uac@avalanche.org (uac@avalanche.org) or fax 801-524-6301

Finally, remember that this avalanche bulletin describes general conditions and that local variations always occur.  Be sure to take a reputable avalanche class and learn to judge local conditions as you travel.

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.
 
http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_4661391

A man backcountry skiing in the Upper Silver Fork Bowl near the Solitude ski resort Tuesday was seriously injured after a massive slide broke at about 3:30 p.m.
Steve Lloyd, 28, who was wearing an avalanche beacon, was buried for about seven minutes before the men with whom he was skiing located him, said Jason West, a friend of Lloyd's. It took the men another seven minutes to dig Lloyd out.
One of the men had a cell phone and called 911, said Salt Lake County sheriff's Sgt. Todd Griffiths.
Tuesday's avalanche was one of the first this winter. Griffiths said the Sheriff's Office had been called out four time in the past couple of weeks for minor butsimilar incidents.
"This is a busy start to a winter season," he said.
Lloyd was initially unconscious but was awake and breathing by the time AirMed paramedics landed in Big Cottonwood Canyon, West said.
"It took him awhile to regain consciousness and lucidity," West said.
Lloyd, who is married and has a baby on the way, was able to ski down and meet the paramedics. He was flown to University Hospital for treatment of his injuries.
On Monday, a skier near Alta triggered a 40-foot-wide avalanche that left him with only his face poking out of the snow, the Utah Avalanche Center reported. The man walked away with only
minor injuries.
"Thin snow means weak snow," said Bruce Tremper, director of the avalanche center. "Every time you load it up with weight from wind-blown snow, it gets sensitive."
Tremper said avalanches this early in November are typical, but especially dangerous.
"This first snow of the season surprises people," he said. "They think a little bit of snow isn't dangerous. But it's just the opposite because it's so thin."
"This is a bit humbling because I knew better," said West, who received minor injuries and was airlifted to the base of the mountain, where he was treated in an ambulance.
Two groups of skiers - a group of three, which included Lloyd and West, and an individual skiing solo - were on the mountain when the whole upper bowl broke.
West, 30, said the group was skiing from Little Cottonwood Canyon to Silver Fork and had conducted stability tests before skiing the upper bowl. The snowpack appeared fine, he said. The group made one run down and had begun hiking back up when the snow fractured and sloughed off.
Click to expand...


Guess it was not so stable. 100mph winds might do that...
 
November 16, 2006 - 7:05 am   Forecaster: Bruce Tremper The avalanche danger is what I might call a scary MODERATE on northwest, north, northeast and east facing slopes above about 9,000’, steeper than about 35 degrees.  The avalanches may be stubborn to trigger but if you do trigger one, it will most likely be large and dangerous.  On southerly-facing slopes that had no preexisting snow prior to last weekend’s storm, the avalanche danger is LOW.   There is also a MODERATE danger of wet avalanche activity at lower elevations today if we get significant rain.Alta and Snowbird resorts will be closed to uphill traffic today due to avalanche control work.

I will give a free avalanche awareness talk tonight at Kirkhams at 7:00 pm.  Kirkhans is located at 3125 S. State St. Listen to the advisory.  Try our new streaming audio or podcasts

Links: Avalanche List Photos Profile List Weather Links Encyclopedia 24 Hrs All the avalanches have been fracturing on a layer of very tender, sugary, faceted crystals near the ground and making avalanches 2-3 feet deep and sometimes very wide.  Faceted snow is one of the so-called “persistent” weak layers because it continues to produce avalanches sometimes several days after it has been loaded with the weight of new snow or wind blown snow.  Click here for a web photo gallery. In other words, today you will continue to find a few booby traps that backcountry riders could trigger.  All the cagy avalanche folks I know are continuing to be very suspicious of northerly-facing slopes steeper than about 35 degrees. (For detailed avalanche activity information call 888-999-4019 and pick option 8.)

24 Hrs Watch out for the possibility of wet sluffs at lower elevations if we get significant rain.

Yesterday, Brett Kobernik and I went up to look at the skier-triggered avalanche in Silver Fork on Tuesday and Brett posted an excellent report with photos.  Wow, it was an impressive slide breaking 2-3 feet deep and over a quarter mile wide.  Thanks to a textbook-perfect rescue by the party, everyone is alive and well.Although the snowpack has settled down dramatically from the widespread avalanche activity on Tuesday, yesterday a backcountry skier triggered a slab 3’ deep and 100’ wide on the northeast face of Little Superior Buttress but they were able to ski off it.  Several other people reported collapsing and cracking snow.  Today is probably a good day to catch up on your indoor work.  It will be gloomy weather in the mountains today with clouds, warm temperatures and the possibility of rain to quite high elevations this morning before the rain-snow line lowers to around 8,000’ later in the day.  On the highest peaks, the temperature has risen to freezing and the winds are 30 mph from the west-southwest.  Yesterday, there was some nice, creamy powder on the sun sheltered slopes but the south facing slopes started to get damp with some rollerballs in the afternoon sun.

We’ll have poopy weather in the mountains today with a warm, shallow cloud layer streaming in from the west.  This will bring light precipitation, with the rain-snow line up around 10,000’ this morning and lowering to around 8,000’ by afternoon.  We may get a couple inches of wet snow by tonight.  It looks like similar weather on Friday.The extended forecast calls for warming temperatures over the weekend and then the possibility of a storm around Thanksgiving.

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.
 
November 17, 2006 - 7:23 am   The avalanche danger remains MODERATE on northwest, north, and northeast facing slopes above about 9,000’, steeper than about 35 degrees. The avalanches may be stubborn to trigger but if you do trigger one, it has the potential to be large and dangerous. On the lower elevation slopes as well as southerly facing slopes that had no preexisting snow prior to last weekend’s storm, the avalanche danger is LOW.  

Links: Avalanche List Photos Profile List Weather Links Encyclopedia 24 Hrs I’m afraid we’re going to sound like a broken record for a while talking about the faceted snow near the ground. While each day that goes by the snowpack tends to relax and isn’t as sensitive, I still have reservations about the northerly facing slopes. It may take some time before we receive enough snow and it becomes strong enough to “bridge” over this weak snow near the ground. People who want to recreate in the mountains for a long time need to have patience. After a mostly stable snowpack last year, we need to adjust to this more unstable start to this season. CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS AND MORE INFO

No avalanching was reported from yesterday but not many people were out either.  People who were out reported continued collapsing of the snowpack.  Many are still weary of the upper elevation northerly aspects.

I won’t describe the weather from yesterday quite like my boss did but it was warm. Overcast skies and 10,000 foot temperatures in the mid 30s made the snow moist up to at least 9,400 feet. Temperatures did cool off some what overnight and are now in the mid 20s at 10,000 feet with west northwest winds in the 10 mph range gusting into the 20s.

A mild westerly flow will bring some moisture through northern Utah today but will remain mostly north of Salt Lake City.  Skies will be partly cloudy and 10,000 foot temperatures again will be above freezing.  Westerly winds along the ridgetops will average from 10 to 20 mph.

A weak cold front tonight may bring a few inches of snow to the mountains. I won’t bore you with the ridge of high pressure and very warm temperatures forecast for early next week. I’d rather talk about a trof that the weather models have been advertising over the last few days scheduled for sometime late next week. Let’s hope this is not some sort of false advertising campaign.

The next FUAC fundraiser will be at Brewvies. “the Anomaly” by TGR is playing on Dec 7th.

To sign up for automated e-mails of our graphical advisory click HERE

If there is anything we should know about, please let us know by calling (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 on Saturday and 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.
 
November 18, 2006 - 7:02 am   The avalanche danger remains MODERATE on northwest, north, and northeast facing slopes above about 9,000’, steeper than about 35 degrees.  While there are only localized places a person could trigger a slide, if you do, it will go to the ground.  The lower elevation, southerly and westerly facing slopes that had no preexisting snow prior to last weekend’s storm have a LOW avalanche danger.   Our new, state wide tollfree telephone hotline is 1-888-999-4019.

Lees

Links: Avalanche List Photos Profile List Weather Links Encyclopedia 24 Hrs The lack of activity does not mean the snowpack is completely stable.  Steep, upper elevation shady slopes are still suspect because of the base layer of faceted crystals sitting on or near the ground.  These sugary faceted crystals are called persistent because it is still possible to trigger slides on this weak layer days after a storm.  Today, there are still a few places where you could trigger a slide to the ground, on steep, shady upper elevation slopes.  By using lower angle slopes, ridgelines, and the sunny aspects, there’s lots of terrain you can travel safely in today.  And it is worth getting out this weekend to look at some the recent slides in places like Silver Fork (Click Here), Days (Click Here), Cardiff (Click here), or Grizzly Gulch (click here).

No avalanches, cracking or collapsing were reported yesterday, but very few people were out.                        Winter has stalled out off the northwest coast, with Utah left out of the action.  This morning, the mild temperatures are in the mid to upper 20’s at most elevations.  Winds are from the northwest, generally around 10 mph, with speeds in the low 20’s across the higher peaks.  The snow on the sunny southerly and westerly facing slopes and at lower elevations is now crusted.  There is descent settled powder on a dense base on upper elevation shady slopes.  But the snow pack is shallow, less than 3 feet even up high, and you will be clipping rocks if you are not careful.

A moist westerly flow will bring mostly cloudy skies, a few snow showers and warming temperatures to the mountains today.  10,000’ highs will be in the upper 20’s and 8,000’ highs near 40.   Sunday, skies will be mostly clear, with mild temperatures and light southwesterly winds.  Florida retirement weather arrives Monday, with 10,000’ highs in the mid to upper 40’s.  So all eyes are on the potential Thanksgiving storm, but is very low confidence on any details due to disagreements between models and runs.

To sign up for automated e-mails of our graphical advisory click HERE

The next FUAC fundraiser will be at Brewvies.  “The Anomaly” by TGR is playing on Dec 7th, with two showings, at 7pm and 9pm.  Advance tickets are available.

We appreciate any snowpack and avalanche observations, so please let us know by calling (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 on Sunday and 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.
 
November 21, 2006 - 6:54 am   Most slopes have a LOW danger today.  However, a MODERATE danger still exists on northwest, north and northeast facing slopes above 9,500 feet that are steeper then 35 degrees.

UDOT will do artillery avalanche control in Little Cottonwood Canyon this morning.  The road will be closed from around 7:30 to 9:00am.  UDOT will do the same in Big Cottonwood Canyon on Wednesday but with only intermittent road closers.  Click this message for details.

Kobernik

Links: Avalanche List Photos Profile List Weather Links Encyclopedia 24 Hrs So, if a tree falls in the woods……….?

We tend to overlook persistent weakness during periods when no one is out getting collapsing or avalanching.  But, since no one is triggering avalanches, does this mean the weakness is done with?  Not necessarily.  While many slopes have undergone significant settling, I imagine that people could still find a slope that has a slab with enough tension still to crack, propagate, and avalanche.  Like the message we’ve been preaching over the last week, you’ll find these suspect slopes on upper elevation northerly aspects.  

Surface conditions range from supportable melt freeze crusts on southerly aspects to dense settled powder and wind blown snow on the northerly aspects.  No avalanche activity was reported from yesterday.  This was due to the fact that I received no backcountry observation this morning. 

This mornings weather conditions almost mimic yesterday’s.  Mountain temperatures remain inverted with overnight lows in the mid-to upper 30’s above 9500 feet.  On the backside of the ridge of high pressure, winds are out of the south and southwest averaging 15-25mph but show signs of increasing over the last few hours with gusts into the 60s at the most exposed locations.

Under southwest flow we’ll see cloudy skies with southwest winds in the 15 to 25 mph range gusting into the 40s along the ridges.  Gusts will be around 60 at the most exposed locations.  10,000’ temperatures will be in the upper 30s.  Wednesday looks like a repeat of today with slight cooling.  On Thanksgiving we’ll have a chance for snow with a short wave trof that moves through.  This appears like it won’t be a big event.

The next FUAC fundraiser will be at Brewvies.  “The Anomaly” by TGR is playing on Dec 7th, with two showings, at 7pm and 9pm.  Advance tickets are available.

We appreciate any snowpack and avalanche observations, so please let us know by calling (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.

Our staff will update this advisory by 7:30 on Wednesday morning and 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.
 
November 22, 2006 - 6:50 am   Most slopes have a LOW avalanche danger today.  However, a MODERATE danger still exists on northwest, north and northeast facing slopes above about 9,500 feet that are steeper than about 35 degrees.  UDOT will do artillery avalanche control work in Big Cottonwood Canyon from approximately 9:30 am to 1 pm today with intermittent road closures.  Please stay clear of the Stairs and Kessler slide paths.  Click this message for details.

Lees

Links: Avalanche List Photos Profile List Weather Links Encyclopedia 24 Hrs The only problem area remains on the upper elevation, shady slopes where snowpits yesterday continue to show that the loose, sugary facets near the ground remain weak.  I suspect that there are still a few isolated places where a person could trigger a slide on this weak layer, on steep, shady slopes above about 9,500’ in the Salt Lake, Park City and Provo area mountains.  Most of the terrain in the Ogden area mountains is below 9,500’ and has no faceted snow.

  

Very few people were in the backcountry yesterday, and no avalanche activity was reported.  The ridiculously warm weather continues, with temperatures this morning in the 30’s in the central Wasatch, and the mid 40’s at 8,500’ in the Provo and Ogden mountains.  The southwesterly winds are decreasing, and are generally less than 15 mph.  Across the highest ridgelines, speeds are still brisk, in the 25 to 35 mph range.  Dry soft snow remains on the shady slopes at the higher elevations, but the rest of the snowpack is getting hammered by the warm temperatures and yesterday’s winds.  Most of the snow surface is crusted or damp, and the snotel snow depths throughout the Wasatch have shrunk into the 1 to 2’ range.

A southwest flow will remain over the area today, with mid and high level clouds increasing this afternoon.  Temperatures will reach the upper 40’s at 8,000’ and remain near freezing at 10,000’.  Mostly cloudy skies tonight, with a fast moving storm reaching the northern mountains Thanksgiving morning.  Snow is expected to be in the 3 to 5” range, and temperatures will cool significantly, into the teens at 10,000’.   Another storm system will bring a chance for snow on Monday.

Our partners, the FUAC, will hold their next fundraiser at Brewvies on Dec 7th. There will be two showings of TGR’s new film, “The Anomaly”, at 7pm and 9pm.  Advance tickets are available.

Listen to the advisory.  Try our new streaming audio or podcasts

Our new, state wide tollfree hotline is 1-888-999-4019.To sign up for automated e-mails of our graphical advisory click HERE

We appreciate any snowpack and avalanche observations, so please let us know by calling (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.

Our staff will update this advisory by 7:30 on Wednesday morning and 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.
 
November 23, 2006 - 6:18 am   Most slopes have a LOW avalanche danger today.  However, there are pockets of MODERATE danger on slopes that face the north half of the compass above about 10,000 feet that are steeper than about 35 degrees.  There is also a MODERATE danger on steep slopes with recent deposits of wind drifted snow.

Links: Avalanche List Photos Profile List Weather Links Encyclopedia 24 Hrs The snow is worn out and limp with not much energy and the places where you could trigger an avalanche have shrunk down to just a few pockets on slopes that face the north half of the compass above about 10,000’.   On some of these slopes, my snow profiles are still producing both initiation and propagation, meaning that you could still pop something out if you hit it in the right place.  Although almost all slopes are quite stable, you should still be suspicious of the upper elevation shady slopes. 8 Hrs Also, today if we do get more snow than I think, you will have to worry about the usual wind drifts on steep slopes. No activity was reported from yesterday. It’s been warm and blustery overnight with temperatures an astounding 40 degrees at 8,000’ and just above freezing at 10,000’.  Ridgetop winds are blasting from the south at 30 mph and up to 40, gusting to 60 on the most exposed peaks.  We’re expecting a turkey of a storm around noon before you eat your turkey this afternoon.  We will be lucky to get a couple inches of snow, but hey, at least it will freeze the damp surface crusts into something hard enough to rattle out your fillings.  Although we have been keeping it a secret, there’s actually some passable, soft, settled, old, powder on upper elevation northerly facing slopes, but all south facing slopes and slopes below about 9,000’ are pretty bony Today’s storm will be another one of those huff-and-puff-with-not-much-fluff, kind of storms.  A quick-hitting cold front will arrive around noon and lay down a mighty two inches of snow if we are lucky—just enough to conceal the rocks.  Ridge top temperatures will drop from near freezing this morning to the upper teens by tonight.  Ridge top winds will decrease from 30-40 mph from the south this morning to around 25 mph from the west tonight.  Then, it looks like we return to nice, warm weather over the weekend.The extended forecast calls for a potentially significant snow storm on Monday through Wednesday.  But I don’t want to jinx it, so I won’t dare say more.

Listen to the advisory.  Try our new streaming audio or podcastsOur new, state wide tollfree hotline is 1-888-999-4019.To sign up for automated e-mails of our graphical advisory click HERE

ur partners, the FUAC, will hold their next fundraiser at Brewvies on Dec 7th. There will be two showings of TGR’s new film, “The Anomaly”, at 7pm and 9pm.  Advance tickets are available.

We appreciate any snowpack and avalanche observations, so please let us know by calling (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 on Friday morning and 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.
 
November 24, 2006 - 7:02 am   Most slopes have a LOW avalanche danger today.  However, there are pockets with a MODERATE danger on slopes that face the north half of the compass above about 9500 feet that are steeper than 35 degrees.  There is also a MODERATE danger on steep slopes with recent deposits of wind drifted snow.

Kobernik

For a list of avalanche classes, click HERE

Links: Avalanche List Photos Profile List Weather Links Encyclopedia 24 Hrs Winds on Thursday were strong enough to produce some plumes off of the highest peaks.  This might have formed a few drifts that could be sensitive to the weight of a person.  These drifts will be fairly shallow and not pose too much threat.  You might find these on upper elevation north through east facing slopes.

24 Hrs Stability tests still show weakness in the sugary snow near the ground.  (MORE) While it’s pretty difficult to find a slope that may avalanche there were still a few slopes that I avoided on Thursday.  It may take another load of snow for this weakness to become active again.  Nonetheless, we can’t forget about this problem just yet.  Click HERE to check out a new experimental stability test.

No new activity reported.  The fast moving cold front that came through on Thursday laid down a whopping trace to a ½ inch of snow.  Temperatures cooled off significantly yesterday and are now in the mid to upper teens at most locations.  Average ridgetop wind speeds are 5 to 10 mph with gusts to near 30 at the most exposed locations.  Surface conditions range from a brain rattling melt freeze crust at lower elevations to wind effected snow at the higher locations.  Dense settled powder can still be found in the 9000 to 9500 foot range on northerly facing slopes.  For the most part the thin snowpack is supportable which makes traveling quite easy.

Today we’ll have mostly clear skies with ridgetop temperatures in the mid to upper 20s.  Southwest winds will be in the 5 to 10 mph range with gusts near 30 at the most exposed locations.  For the weekend we’ll see partly cloudy skies with ridgetop temperatures in the mid 20s.  A potentially significant snow storm is shaping up for Monday night through Wednesday with plenty of cold air and a decent amount of moisture.

Our new, state wide tollfree hotline is 1-888-999-4019.(For early morning detailed avalanche activity report hit option 8)

Our partners, the FUAC, will hold their next fundraiser at Brewvies on Dec 7th. There will be two showings of TGR’s new film, “The Anomaly”, at 7pm and 9pm.  Advance tickets are available.

We appreciate any snowpack and avalanche observations, so please let us know by calling (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 on Friday morning and 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.
 
November 25, 2006 - 7:03 am   Most slopes have a LOW avalanche danger today.  However, there are isolated pockets with a MODERATE danger on northerly facing slopes above about 9500 feet that are steeper than 35 degrees. 

Lees

Links: Avalanche List Photos Profile List Weather Links Encyclopedia 24 Hrs Though most slopes are stable, there are still a few isolated places where a person could trigger a slide on the weak sugary layers near the ground.  The weakest snow is on steep, shady rocky slopes with a shallow snowpack.

No recent avalanche activity has been reported. But with a storm in the forecast, I’m paying close attention to the snow surface, where any loose, surface snow is weakening. There are also slick, hard surface layers that will form good bed surfaces on both shady and sunny slopes, and on some slopes the snow just below the wind and sun crusts is also weakening. With the next storm, I expect the first avalanche activity to be near or at our current snow surface.

It is another beautiful morning in the mountains, with clear skies, temperatures in the teens and low 20’s, and light, southwesterly winds. The current shallow snowpack and snow surface conditions aren’t exactly anything to write home about, but the supportable snow makes travel easy. Sun crusts and hard wind slabs are very widespread, with only a few pockets of soft, recrystalized snow on sheltered, shady slopes off the ridgelines. The snow on the steeper, sunny slopes warms into “imitation corn” mid day. But exits can be rough and the smooth wind slabs are hard enough you could take a slide for life.

It will be another pleasant day in the mountains, with a few high thin clouds moving across the mostly clear skies. Temperatures will reach the upper 30’s at 8,000’ and near 20 at 10,000’. The southwesterly winds will remain light, generally less than 15 mph, with slightly stronger speeds across the highest peaks. A decent looking storm remains on track for Monday into Tuesday, with much colder temperatures and significant snow.

Our partners, the FUAC, will hold their next fundraiser at Brewvies on Dec 7th. There will be two showings of TGR’s new film, “The Anomaly”, at 7pm and 9pm. Advance tickets are available.

Listen to the advisory.  Try our new streaming audio or podcasts

Our new, state wide tollfree hotline is 1-888-999-4019.(For early morning detailed avalanche activity report hit option 8)

For a list of avalanche classes, click HERE

To sign up for automated e-mails of our graphical advisory click HERE

We appreciate any snowpack and avalanche observations, so please let us know by calling (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 on Sunday morning and 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.
 
November 28, 2006 - 6:13 am   We have issued an AVALANCHE WARNNG for the mountains of northern Utah.  The danger is expected to rise to HIGH as more snow accumulates today.This morning there will be a CONSIDERABLE danger of human triggered avalanches, rising to a HIGH danger later in the day as new snow accumulates.  This means that both human triggered and natural avalanches are likely.Forecaster: Bruce Tremper

Links: Avalanche List Photos Profile List Weather Links Encyclopedia 24 Hrs With continued cold, unstable air impacting northern Utah from the west today, we expect perhaps another foot of snow today in the mountains. All this new snow is sitting on top of a wide variety of slick crusts and weak sugar snow. So it’s kind of like down feathers on top of a slick pane of glass and then we are loading it up with denser feathers on top. With more snow overnight and continued snow today, I would expect that you could easily trigger soft slabs and sluffs easily today on steeper slopes and you will likely see natural avalanche activity as well. If you don’t have very well developed avalanche skills, you should probably avoid the backcountry today and head to the resorts.

Yesterday, ski resorts reported that they could easily produce soft slabs with ski cuts in the afternoon as denser snow with more wind was deposited on top of the very light density snow from earlier in the day. Today would definitely be a good call in sick to work day and head for the resorts.  Overnight, 7-12 inches of new snow fell in the Cottonwood Canyons with storm totals of a foot and a half to two feet.  Winds picked up a bit as the cold front passed last night, blowing 20 gusting to 40 on most ridge tops and 40 gusting to 60 on the most exposed peaks.  Temperatures have dropped down to the low teens this morning and will be below zero tomorrow morning.

We’re expecting 8-12 inches of snow today with ridge top winds blowing 20-30 mph from the west. Ridge top temperatures should be in the lower teens. We should get a break in the snow tonight with another 4-8 inches of snow on Wednesday. Things should cut off by about mid day on Wednesday as the ridge top winds turn northerly and ridge top temperatures will be a very chilly 4 below. The extended forecast calls for a few clouds and the chance of some light snow showers over the weekend, but otherwise, we see no significant snow for the next week or ten days.

Listen to the advisory.  Try our new streaming audio or podcastsOur new, state wide tollfree hotline is 1-888-999-4019.(For early morning detailed avalanche activity report hit option 8)For a list of avalanche classes, click HERE

To sign up for automated e-mails of our graphical advisory click HERE

Drew Hardesty will give a free avalanche awareness talk at REI tonight at 7pm.  For more info, call the SLC REI.

Our partners, the FUAC, will hold their next fundraiser at Brewvies on Dec 7th. There will be two showings of TGR’s new film, “The Anomaly”, at 7pm and 9pm. Advance tickets are available.

We appreciate any snowpack and avalanche observations, so please let us know by calling (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 on Wednesday morning and 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.
 
November 29, 2006 - 7:11 am   The avalanche danger is MODERATE on slopes steeper than about 35 degrees.  Moderate means human triggered avalanches are possible.  Steep, wind affected terrain has a CONSIDERABLE danger.  Carefully observe the winds today – if you are in an area where the wind speeds increase, the avalanche danger will rise rapidly. UDOT in Provo Canyon will sight in their 105 howitzer on Thursday, at 11:30.  Ice climbers should avoid Provo canyon.

Evelyn Lees

Links: Avalanche List Photos Profile List Weather Links Encyclopedia 24 Hrs Today, sensitive wind slabs could exist and be more widespread in the higher, open terrain, created by the slightly stronger winds overnight.  The new wind drifts will most likely be along ridgelines, breakovers or around terrain features.  Cracking in the snow and cornices are clues that you’re in an area where the wind drifted the snow.  As always, avoid any steep slope with recent deposits of wind drifted snow.  And with two feet or more of snow available for transport, be very alert to any increase in wind speeds today.  Stronger winds will quickly drift the snow, and the avalanche danger will rise rapidly.  

24 Hrs I am still concerned about the old facets near ground and shady slopes with a weak, sugary snow old snow surface.  Yesterday, a Big Cottonwood resort had two slides release on the near surface facets with explosives, and there were two small collapses on the north side of Cardiff Peak.  So as you travel in the backcountry today, there are a few isolated places where a person could trigger a deeper slide, even to the ground, on very steep, shady upper elevation slopes.

Most reports yesterday were of stable snow.  The new 1 to 2 feet of snow had no cohesive or slab like quality, and while weak layers exist both within the new snow and at the old snow surface, without a slab, it’s awfully hard to trigger a slide.  Sluffs were easy to trigger, but manageable.  

The storm is winding down, and snow totals are in the 1 to 1½ foot range in the Ogden, Provo, and Park City mountains.  The Cottonwoods received 2 to 3 feet of snow, with water weights of 1 ¾ to 2 ½ inches.   Yesterday evening, winds picked up for about 6 hours, into the 15 to 30 mph range from a westerly direction.  Currently, winds are less than 15 mph, even across the highest ridges.  The temperatures are just screaming frostbite – they’re in the single digits to -10 F.  In areas that received the most snow, trail breaking is the perfect post Thanksgiving work out. 

  

The cold, upper level low over Utah will slowly shift east of the area today.  Intermittent light snow showers could produce an additional 2 to 5” of snow.  Temperatures will remain bitterly cold, with highs near 5 at 8,000’ and minus 5 at 10,000’.  The northwesterly winds should remain light, less than 20 mph, and shift to the north later today.  Along the highest ridges, winds speeds may increase into the 20 to 30 mph range.  Skies will be mostly clear tonight, with temperatures dropping to below zero at all elevations.  Thursday will be warmer, with mostly cloudy skies.  Another cold front will move through Thursday night, bringing more frigid air and just a slight chance for snow.

Our partners, the FUAC, will hold their next fundraiser at Brewvies on Dec 7th. There will be two showings of TGR’s new film, “The Anomaly”, at 7pm and 9pm.  Advance tickets are available.

We appreciate any snowpack and avalanche observations, so please let us know by calling (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 on Thursday morning and 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.
 
November 30, 2006 - 7:02 am   The avalanche danger is MODERATE on upper elevation slopes steeper than about 35 degrees with recent deposits of wind drifted snow.  Moderate means human triggered avalanches are possible.  Most areas out of wind affected terrain have a LOW danger.

Links: Avalanche List Photos Profile List Weather Links Encyclopedia 24 Hrs The breezy north winds did transport some snow on Wednesday.  This made the newest snow a bit thicker and did form some fresh drifts.  These drifts did not seem very sensitive by the end of Wednesday but you should approach any fresh drifts with caution.  You’ll find these mainly on northeast through south facing upper elevation slopes.  With ridgetop winds expected to increase a bit today, continue to keep an eye out for fresh wind drifts.  You can test these drifts by stomping on them in safe terrain to see if they crack.  Slope cuts would be another appropriate tool to use today.  It would be easy to get complacent with the stable snow from the last 2 days but don’t let your guard down. 

No new avalanche activity was reported from Wednesday.  There was one report of a natural avalanche that probably released on Tuesday which was on a north facing slope on Mt Superior in Big Cottonwood canyon.  It was 60 to 100 feet wide and ran a couple hundred feet.  The weak layer was not confirmed but could have been a poor bond between the new snow and an old wind crust.

Winds on Wednesday picked up a bit and blew snow around in the upper elevation terrain.  Mountain temperatures are warming into the single digits.  Northwest winds are currently blowing in the 5 to 10 mph range along the ridges with gusts into the 20s.  Skies are partly cloudy.  Total snow depths to the ground range from 1-2 feet in the Ogden area mountains, 2-3 feet above Farmington, 2-3 feet in the Park City and Western Uinta mountains, 2-4 feet in the Cottonwoods, and 1-3 feet depending on elevation in the Provo Mountains.

Today we’ll see increasing clouds with mountain temperatures warming to around 20 degrees.  Ridgetop winds will blow in the 10 to 15 mph range with gusts in the 20s and should increase during the day.  Gusts may reach 50 mph at the most exposed locations.  A small system will affect the mountains of northern Utah with the chance of a few inches of snow tonight into Friday morning.  Colder air returns through Saturday then high pressure warms things Sunday and Monday.  Chances for snow next week look slim at this point.

UDOT in Provo Canyon will sight in their 105 howitzer on Thursday, at 11:30.  Ice climbers should avoid Provo canyon.

Our partners, the FUAC, will hold their next fundraiser at Brewvies on Dec 7th. There will be two showings of TGR’s new film, “The Anomaly”, at 7pm and 9pm.  Advance tickets are available.

We appreciate any snowpack and avalanche observations you have, so please let us know by calling (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 on Friday morning and 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.
 
December 1, 2006 - 7:09 am   The avalanche danger is MODERATE on upper elevation slopes steeper than about 35 degrees with recent deposits of wind drifted snow.  Moderate means human triggered avalanches are possible.  Any avalanching today will most likely be the result of recent winds.  Most areas out of wind affected terrain have a LOW danger.

Kobernik

Links: Avalanche List Photos Profile List Weather Links Encyclopedia 24 Hrs For today the main concern is wind deposited snow.  While weakness within the newest snow doesn’t seem present, any fresh drifts should not be trusted.  Also, as winds help to stiffen the new snow, this may create a slab where the weight of a person may initiate a collapse of the snowpack into deeper weak snow.  You may find fresh drifts at many elevations and mainly on northeast through south facing slopes.  Areas where winds may overload deeper weakness are located in upper elevation northerly facing slopes.  Continue to stomp on any “pillowy” looking snow formations that are in safe low angle terrain to see if they crack.  Slope cuts should be performed where appropriate.  If you experience any “whoomping” or collapsing while traveling, this indicates weakness exists deeper in the snowpack.

Pesky winds are today’s focus.  It seems that the winds over the last few days blew snow around, formed some drifts and some small cornices that broke off under their own weight.  No one reported significant activity out of this event but everyone is alert.  (Snow Diagram)

Winds continued to blow from the west northwest overnight with gusts into the 50s at the most exposed locations.  It also appears that the gusty conditions are getting into the mid elevations as well with gusts in the 20s & 30s along the 8000 & 9000 foot ridges.  Temperatures are in the upper teens to low 20s at most locations.  A trace to a couple of inches of snow fell overnight throughout the range.

A cool northwest flow looks like it will continue through Saturday.  This will bring colder temperatures, clouds and the chance for light snow as well as continued northwest winds.  For today, ridgetop temperatures will not warm much and will continue to drop into the single digits by Saturday.  Ridgetop northwest winds will continue to blow in the 10 to 15 mph range with gusts into the 20s & 30s.  Stronger gusts will continue at the more exposed locations.  Only a few inches of snow is expected. 

Chances for snow next week don’t look good with weather models depicting a ridge of high pressure as the dominant feature.

Our partners, the FUAC, will hold their next fundraiser at Brewvies on Dec 7th. There will be two showings of TGR’s new film, “The Anomaly”, at 7pm and 9pm.  Advance tickets are available.

We appreciate any snowpack and avalanche observations you have, so please let us know by calling (801) 524-5304 or 1-800-662-4140, email uac@avalanche.org or fax 801-524-6301

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

Evelyn Lees will update this advisory by 7:30 on Friday morning and 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.
 
December 2, 2006 - 6:55 am   The avalanche danger is MODERATE on shady, northerly and easterly facing upper elevation slopes steeper than about 35 degrees or on any steep slope with recent deposits of wind drifted snow.  Moderate means human triggered avalanches are possible.  Most other slopes have a LOW danger.

 

Lees

Links: Avalanche List Photos Profile List Weather Links Encyclopedia 24 Hrs The only avalanche activity reported in the past few days has been a snowmobile triggered slide on Whisky Hill, in the Ogden area mountains.  It was at 9,000’ on a heavily wind loaded, northeasterly facing slope, and about 180’ wide and 2-3’ deep.  In the Salt Lake and Park City mountains, a few very small, soft wind drifts have been triggered and some of the steeper slopes are sluffing.  Snowpits, quick hand pits and pole tests continue to show a spooky number of weak snow layers throughout the pack from top to bottom.  However, on most slopes there is just not enough of a load or a not a cohesive enough slab for an avalanche to occur.  Still, approach steep northerly and easterly facing slopes with caution, as there may be isolated places where a person could trigger a slide on one of the deeper weak layers.  Also approach any wind drifted terrain with caution.  Use safe travel techniques of only one person on a steep slope at a time, and carry and practice with your avalanche beacons.

See above. Another pocket of cold air rippled into northern Utah this morning, kicking off a few light snow flurries and dropping temperatures into the single digits at all elevations.  The northerly winds are thankfully light, averaging less than 10 mph at most locations.  Turning, snowshoeing and snowmobiling conditions are quite good at the higher elevations, with shady, sheltered slopes having delightful, light powder.  Low snow depths still plaguing most terrain below about 8,500’, where it’s still common to hit rocks and the highest ridgelines, peaks and open bowls are wind damaged. 

The mountains will remain in the icebox today, with a cold, northerly flow keeping temperatures in the low teens at 8,000’ and the single digits at 10,000’.  The northerly winds should remain less than 15 mph, except across the highest peaks.  A strong ridge will be in place over northern Utah through the upcoming week, with the next chance for snow in about a week.      Listen to the advisory.  Try our new streaming audio or podcasts

Our new, state wide tollfree hotline is 1-888-999-4019.(For early morning detailed avalanche activity report hit option 8)For a list of avalanche classes, click HERE

To sign up for automated e-mails of our graphical advisory click HERE

Our partners, the FUAC, will hold their next fundraiser at Brewvies on Dec 7th. There will be two showings of TGR’s new film, “The Anomaly”, at 7pm and 9pm.  Advance tickets are available.

We appreciate any snowpack and avalanche observations you have, so please let us know by calling (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 on Sunday morning and 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.
 
December 5, 2006 - 6:58 am   The avalanche danger is mostly LOW today.  The slight increase in wind speeds does deserve a “pockety” MODERATE rating in areas with recent deposits of wind drifted snow.  This will be mostly on easterly facing slopes at the higher elevations.

Links: Avalanche List Photos Profile List Weather Links Encyclopedia 24 Hrs For today the main concern will be any new wind deposited snow.  Wind speeds are forecast to pick up slightly today but this will mainly affect only the higher locations.  Nonetheless, pay attention to any fresh drifting.  With plenty of weak snow around, any new drift on top is suspect. 

The powder is getting louder.  This is a result of near surface faceting and surface hoar formation.  In simple terms, the surface snow continues to weaken.  This is not an issue at this time but is something we will pay close attention to if it ever gets covered up with new snow.  In general, the snowpack is still fairly supportable especially in areas where the overall depth is 3 to 4 feet.  In areas that have less, things are significantly weaker.  I’ve been finding areas where my skis penetrate through the most recent layer into weak snow near the ground.  These areas will need to be treated with much respect once we start loading them with more snow.  (CLICK FOR DIAGRAM)

Currently, skies are mostly clear.  Ridgetop temperatures are in the mid 20s with slightly lower readings in the valley bottoms.  Ridgetop winds are 5 to 10 mph gusting into the 20s.

A slight disturbance to our north will produce partly cloudy skies in our area.  Northwest wind speeds in the 10 to 20 mph range will increase slightly and may reach 50 mph at the most exposed locations.  Ridgetop temperatures will be in the upper 20s.  An upper level ridge will be over us Thursday and Friday resulting in clear skies with mild temperatures in the mountains.  The weekend brings a change but currently the storms don’t look real good for much snow in northern Utah.

Our partners, the FUAC, will hold their next fundraiser at Brewvies on Dec 7th. There will be two showings of TGR’s new film, “The Anomaly”, at 7pm and 9pm.  Advance tickets are available.

We appreciate any snowpack and avalanche observations you have, so please let us know by calling (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 on Wednesday morning and 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.
 
December 6, 2006 - 6:53 am   The avalanche danger is mostly LOW today.  There do exist a few, isolated shallow wind drifts that a person could trigger on steep slopes at the higher elevations.  These steep, wind drifted slopes have a MODERATE avalanche danger.  UDOT plans to fire artillery in Little Cottonwood Canyon tomorrow morning, Thursday, Dec 7th.  Please stay clear of all south facing paths between Maybird and Cardiff, including all of Superior.  For more information and any updates, call 801-975-4838 or go to www.udot.utah.gov/avalanche. 

Evelyn Lees

Links: Avalanche List Photos Profile List Weather Links Encyclopedia 24 Hrs The snowpack is mostly stable, and there are only a few isolated places where a person could trigger a slide.  A wind event last Friday created isolated, shallow, hard wind slabs that can still be triggered.  Two were purposely triggered in the Provo area mountains yesterday, the largest 30’ wide, and 3-6” deep.  Yesterday's winds also moved snow, but didn't seem to form much in the way of drifts, though some sluffing was reported.  Last night’s stronger winds may have created a few new sensitive drifts along the higher ridgelines that should be avoided. The entire snowpack continues to weaken from top to bottom, especially on the most northerly facing slopes and in shallower snowpack areas.  Loose snow sluffs in the weak surface snow are becoming larger.  (Click here for a current Snow Diagram)

See above. Under mostly clear skies, temperatures are in the upper teens to near 30 this morning.  Winds have continued to blow from the northwest, around 15 mph with gusts into the 30’s at most stations.  Across the highest peaks, hourly averages have been in the 30 to 45 mph range, with gusts in the 50’s and 60’s.  Riding conditions in loud powder on the shady slopes continue to be good in the deeper snowpack areas, but the shallower snowpack is becoming more and more unsupportable.  Sunny slopes have crusts, which will soften today.

High pressure will generate a couple more sunny, warm days in the mountains.  Today, temperatures will warm to near 40 at 8,000’ and into the mid 20’s at 10,000’.  The northwesterly winds will gradually decrease into the 10 to 20 mph range at most locations.  Friday, a southwesterly flow will develop ahead of series of weak weather systems that will cross the Great Basin this weekend. 

Our partners, the FUAC, will hold their next fundraiser at Brewvies tomorrow night, Dec 7th. There will be two showings of TGR’s new film, “The Anomaly”, at 7pm and 9pm.  Advance tickets are available at feedthehabit.com.

Listen to the advisory.  Try our new streaming audio or podcasts

Our new, state wide tollfree hotline is 1-888-999-4019.(For early morning detailed avalanche activity report hit option 8)For a list of avalanche classes, click HERE

To sign up for automated e-mails of our graphical advisory click HERE

We appreciate any snowpack and avalanche observations you have, so please leave us a message at (801) 524-5304 or 1-800-662-4140, or email us at uac@avalanche.org (uac@avalanche.org). (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 on Thursday morning and 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.
 
December 7, 2006 - 6:52 am   The avalanche danger is mostly LOW today.  Low danger does not mean no danger.  There may be a few lingering wind slabs up high and you can also get a few wet sluffs going on the steep, sun exposed slopes today.  But be aware, we expect rapidly rising avalanche danger Sunday night as a storm arrives.UDOT plans to fire artillery in Little Cottonwood Canyon this morning, Thursday, Dec 7th.  Please stay clear of all south facing paths between Maybird and Cardiff, including all of Superior.  For more information and any updates, call 801-975-4838 or go to www.udot.utah.gov/avalanche.  Forecaster: Bruce Tremper

Links: Avalanche List Photos Profile List Weather Links Encyclopedia 24 Hrs The snowpack is mostly stable, and there are only a few isolated places where a person could trigger a slide. Stronger winds a few days ago created some wind deposits in above-tree-line, wind exposed terrain but most of those slabs have lost their stored elastic energy and are no longer sensitive to triggers. Also, with today’s very warm temperatures, there may be a few damp to wet sluffs you can get going on the south facing slopes as they heat up in the warm, daytime sun. (Click here for a current Snow Diagram)

The main thing we have to worry about is the future.  Clear skies create weak layers of faceted snow and there is no lack of very weak, sugar snow especially on the snow surface in wind and sun sheltered slopes.  It would be a good idea to get out over the next three days and carefully memorize where this weak surface snow exists because an snow storm on Sunday night will likely produce sensitive avalanches in these areas.   In addition, the entire snowpack is shallow and the clear skies have maintained strong temperature gradients throughout the snowpack, which has rotted the entire snowpack into weak, faceted snow in all the shallow snowpack areas.

None Today will be yet another great day to get up above the choking smog in the valleys and into the warm, clean, sweet-smelling air in the mountains to blow the soot out of your lungs. Last night was another clear night with balmy ridge top temperatures around 27 degrees. The humidity has started to rise, making temperature inversions in the mountain valleys not quite so strong and it is warming up the snow surface temperatures. Snow surface conditions include the usual wide variety we get when it hasn’t snowed in awhile. There is still some soft, recrystallized snow and nice riding conditions on the wind and sun sheltered slopes between about 8,000 and 9,500’. There is hard, wind-blasted snow above tree line and various sun crusts on sun-exposed slopes.

Today should be yet another beautiful, warm, sunny day in the mountains with continued lung-clogging, cold smog in the valleys. Ridge top temperatures will rise to the mid 30’s with 8,000’ temperatures rising into the mid 40’s. Winds should be well behaved.The main news is that we finally see a change in the pattern starting this weekend.  We may blow the smog out of the valleys with a weak cold front on Saturday morning and a stronger cold front on Sunday night may bring some significant snow to the mountains.  Then, there is another storm on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Congratulations to Colleen Graham, the President of the Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center.  Last night, she received the 2006 Wasatch Outdoor Volunteer Award from REI.  She certainly deserves it.  In the past 10 years, she has helped turn the FUAC from a bake-sale organization into a major fundraising operation, which helps save lives in Utah.  The entire Utah avalanche community is indebted to her.  Click HERE for photos.  asatch Backcountry Rescue and Powderbirds will be testing a new helicopter-mounted avalanche receiver in Little Cottonwood Canyon today, mostly over the Superior slide path and in Mineral Fork.And, as she reminded the crowd last night, don’t forget that tonight, the FUAC, will hold their next fundraiser at Brewvies tonight, Dec 7th. There will be two showings of TGR’s new film, “The Anomaly”, at 7pm and 9pm. Advance tickets are available at feedthehabit.com.)Wasatch Backcountry Rescue and Powderbirds will be testing a new helicopter-mounted avalanche receiver in Little Cottonwood Canyon today, mostly over the Superior slide path and in Mineral Fork.Listen to the advisory.  Try our new streaming audio or podcastsOur new, state wide tollfree hotline is 1-888-999-4019.(For early morning detailed avalanche activity report hit option 8)

Our new, state wide tollfree hotline is 1-888-999-4019.(For early morning detailed avalanche activity report hit option 8)For a list of avalanche classes, click HEREFor our classic text advisory click HERE.To sign up for automated e-mails of our graphical advisory click HEREWe appreciate any snowpack and avalanche observations you have, so please leave us a message at (801) 524-5304 or 1-800-662-4140, or email us at uac@avalanche.org. (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 on Friday morning.

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.
 
December 8, 2006 - 7:13 am   The avalanche danger is mostly LOW today.  Low danger does not mean no danger.  There may be a few lingering wind slabs up high and you can also get a few sluffs going on the steeper northerly facing slopes today. 

Kobernik

Links: Avalanche List Photos Profile List Weather Links Encyclopedia 24 Hrs It is pretty hard to find any snow that will crack and propagate right now.  The only place this may happen would be in wind affected terrain along the ridges where a small wind slab may crack.  This poses very little threat.  Sluffing can be a small issue as well.  Yesterday, I watched my partner Evelyn ski through a chute where the loose faceted snow was sluffing almost completely covering her tracks.  This could potentially knock you over but there’s little chance for burial.

It’s another day without much to talk about as far as the snowpack is concerned.  Weakening surface snow; more areas becoming unsupportable; potential persistent weakness; blah blah blah.  Unfortunately, we will need to pay attention to this snow for a while after it gets covered up.  We may not see immediate results after the next snow storms but we know that this current snow is a major red flag.  By Monday we could have a slab sitting on top of our weak snow.  Once this weak snow is buried, just knowing it’s there is enough to demand a VERY cautious approach to steep terrain.  (Click here for some field observations)

Overnight, ridgetop temperatures remained in the upper 20s while ridgetop winds shifted to the south and picked up slightly but still just blowing around 10 mph with gusts into the 20s at the most exposed locations. 

The upper level high pressure ridge starts to move east this afternoon so skies will remain mostly clear in the mean time.  Ridgetop temperatures will be in the mid to upper 30s with southwest winds in the 10 to 20 mph range gusting into the 30s at the most exposed locations.

A series of progressively stronger storms starts to affect our area Saturday.  The first won’t produce much snow but the next two look like better chances.

We appreciate any snowpack and avalanche observations you have, so please leave us a message at (801) 524-5304 or 1-800-662-4140, or email us at uac@avalanche.org (uac@avalanche.org). (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 on Saturday morning. 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.
 
December 9, 2006 - 6:57 am   The avalanche danger is mostly LOW, and there are only a few isolated places where a person could trigger a slide today.  Look for and avoid any new or old wind drifts, and be prepared for sluffing on steep, shady slopes and in some wind drifted areas. For our classic text advisory click HERE.

Evelyn Lees

Links: Avalanche List Photos Profile List Weather Links Encyclopedia 24 Hrs The stronger winds will find some snow to move around today, so expect a few new shallow wind drifts or wind crusts along the higher ridgelines and around terrain features.  Sluffing is continuing on the steep, shady slopes, and may be more pronounced today in the wind drifted areas.

In the deeper snowpack areas there is a stronger, mid pack slab, but where the pack is shallow, it’s almost fun to revel in the wide variety of faceted snow (click PLAY on the diagram for a cool demo).  Stick your ski pole handle in, do a hand pit – nothing but loose, rotting snow as deep as the shovel can dig.  We’re particularly focused on the surface snow, where the surface hoar and near surface facets will probably be the first weak layer to fail with new snow.  With snow in the forecast, the avalanche danger will rise during the next few days, and more conservative travel and route finding will become important.

The strong ridge that has dominated our weather is finally moving to the east today, and a very weak disturbance has brought partly cloudy skies to the area.  The southerly winds have increased along the ridges into the 20 to 25 mph range with gusts into the 30’s.  The highest peaks have gusts in the 40’s and 50’s.  The temperature inversion is disappearing in the mountains, with the higher elevations in the 20’s, and the 8,000’ terrain in the 30’s.  There are good riding conditions in loud powder and surface hoar on untracked slopes, but the sugary snowpack is becoming unsupportable in shallow areas and around rocks. 

A series of progressively stronger Pacific weather disturbances will cross northern Utah today through midweek.  Clouds will increase today, with a slight chance of a few snow showers this afternoon.  The southwesterly winds will remain in the 15 to 25 mph range, with stronger speeds across the highest ridgelines.  Temperatures will reach the upper 30’s at 8,000’ and mid 20’s at 10,000’.     A splitting system will bring light snow tomorrow through tomorrow night, with snowfall totals of 4 to 8” possible by Monday morning.

Listen to the advisory.  Try our new streaming audio or podcastsOur new, state wide tollfree hotline is 1-888-999-4019.(For early morning detailed avalanche activity report hit option 8)For a list of avalanche classes, click HERE

For our classic text advisory click HERE.

To sign up for automated e-mails of our graphical advisory click HERE

We appreciate any snowpack and avalanche observations you have, so please leave us a message at (801) 524-5304 or 1-800-662-4140, or email us at uac@avalanche.org (uac@avalanche.org). (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 on Sunday morning.

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

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


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