Utah Avalanche Center
New member
March 13, 2006 - 7:07 am This morning the danger is CONSIDERABLE on all mid and upper elevation steep slopes with fresh wind drifts. They will be most pronounced on northeast through southeast facing slopes, but you may find drifting in other cross-loaded and channeled areas at the upper elevations. Natural and human triggered avalanches are probable.
Hardesty Links: Avalanche List Photos Profile List Weather Links Encyclopedia 24 Hrs The increasing winds will produce some natural avalanching in the new snow this morning and make avalanches probable for backcountry travelers on the steeper slopes that have been wind loaded and that have seen the most snowfall. The character and densities of the slides will allow then to run fast and far on continuously steep slopes. The stability looks a lot like an EKG monitor, spiking with the precipitation, and then falling back somewhat, then spiking back this morning with the snowfall and winds. Watch for and avoid steep wind loaded areas and move out of and through runout zones quickly.
24 Hrs See above. The 4-6 that fell yesterday seemed like it fell in the span of about 15 minutes. During that time, the high snowfall rates produced a widespread shallow soft slab and loose snow natural cycle that gave the new snow all the bearing of a rookie clown trying to juggle 10 balls at once. We had two close calls during the cycle. During the peak of the snowfall intensity, two experienced snow professionals were about half way up Little Pine chute, one of the steep south facing 2000 slide paths that threaten Little Cottonwood Canyon. It must have been something to look up and see the train coming, then be washed down 1000 onto the apron above the road. Fortunately, neither was injured and they retrieved most of their gear. In terrain like that, there is almost nowhere to hide. To the south above Aspen Grove, a skier triggered a sizeable sluff, rag-dolling 75 yards down to where the angle eased. One of our observers triggered the only remnant wind slab from Saturday mornings winds .a 1 by 25 pocket down low in the path on the Hidden canyon ridgeline, a southwest facing slope at about 9500.
As of 6am, another 3-6 blankets what 4-6 we received during the day yesterday. While the back edge of the current storm looks like its directly overhead, we may still pick up a few more inches into the morning. Winds picked up this morning from the west, blowing 20-30 across the high peaks. Mountain temperatures remain cool in the single digits and low teens. With the riding conditions as they are, youll have to postpone doing those taxes for another day. Its been quite the spring.
Snowfall will continue through the morning then skies will turn mostly cloudy. The westerly winds will blow 20-25mph along the more exposed ridgelines. 8000 highs will reach the high teens with 10,000 temps in the single digits. Another storm is lined up for Tuesday night with another for 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 currently being fixed), 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.
Wasatch Powderbird Guides didn't get out yesterday and will likely be grounded 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.
Evelyn Lees will update this advisory by 7:30 Tuesday morning. Thanks for calling.
This advisory provided by the Wasatch Cache National Forest, in partnership with:
Utah Division of State Parks and Recreation, The Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center, Utah Department of Emergency Services and Homeland Security and Salt Lake County
DISCLAIMER: Above is information on each factor affecting todays' danger rating. All factors must be considered to develop a backcountry travel plan that will reduce your risk.
The post was created using an automated process maintained by First Tracks! Online.
Hardesty Links: Avalanche List Photos Profile List Weather Links Encyclopedia 24 Hrs The increasing winds will produce some natural avalanching in the new snow this morning and make avalanches probable for backcountry travelers on the steeper slopes that have been wind loaded and that have seen the most snowfall. The character and densities of the slides will allow then to run fast and far on continuously steep slopes. The stability looks a lot like an EKG monitor, spiking with the precipitation, and then falling back somewhat, then spiking back this morning with the snowfall and winds. Watch for and avoid steep wind loaded areas and move out of and through runout zones quickly.
24 Hrs See above. The 4-6 that fell yesterday seemed like it fell in the span of about 15 minutes. During that time, the high snowfall rates produced a widespread shallow soft slab and loose snow natural cycle that gave the new snow all the bearing of a rookie clown trying to juggle 10 balls at once. We had two close calls during the cycle. During the peak of the snowfall intensity, two experienced snow professionals were about half way up Little Pine chute, one of the steep south facing 2000 slide paths that threaten Little Cottonwood Canyon. It must have been something to look up and see the train coming, then be washed down 1000 onto the apron above the road. Fortunately, neither was injured and they retrieved most of their gear. In terrain like that, there is almost nowhere to hide. To the south above Aspen Grove, a skier triggered a sizeable sluff, rag-dolling 75 yards down to where the angle eased. One of our observers triggered the only remnant wind slab from Saturday mornings winds .a 1 by 25 pocket down low in the path on the Hidden canyon ridgeline, a southwest facing slope at about 9500.
As of 6am, another 3-6 blankets what 4-6 we received during the day yesterday. While the back edge of the current storm looks like its directly overhead, we may still pick up a few more inches into the morning. Winds picked up this morning from the west, blowing 20-30 across the high peaks. Mountain temperatures remain cool in the single digits and low teens. With the riding conditions as they are, youll have to postpone doing those taxes for another day. Its been quite the spring.
Snowfall will continue through the morning then skies will turn mostly cloudy. The westerly winds will blow 20-25mph along the more exposed ridgelines. 8000 highs will reach the high teens with 10,000 temps in the single digits. Another storm is lined up for Tuesday night with another for 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 currently being fixed), 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.
Wasatch Powderbird Guides didn't get out yesterday and will likely be grounded 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.
Evelyn Lees will update this advisory by 7:30 Tuesday morning. Thanks for calling.
This advisory provided by the Wasatch Cache National Forest, in partnership with:
Utah Division of State Parks and Recreation, The Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center, Utah Department of Emergency Services and Homeland Security and Salt Lake County
DISCLAIMER: Above is information on each factor affecting todays' danger rating. All factors must be considered to develop a backcountry travel plan that will reduce your risk.
The post was created using an automated process maintained by First Tracks! Online.