Avalanche Advisory
Advisory: Uintas Area Mountains Issued by Craig Gordon for Friday - February 16, 2018 - 3:06am
bottom line

In mid and upper elevation terrain, especially in the wind zone at and above treeline, the avalanche danger is MODERATE. Human triggered avalanches are possible on steep wind drifted slopes, facing the north half of the compass, particularly those with an easterly component to their aspect. In addition, avalanches breaking to weak, midpack facets remain possible in terrain with these characteristics.
special announcement

At 6PM on February 17 at Alpine Distilling in Park City, join a presentation on the UAC's Avalanche Awareness Know Before You Go Program then learn about how we perceive aroma and taste through whiskey while seeing how Alpine Distilling crafts local, award winning spirits. The evening will feature a specialty cocktail made with Alpine Distilling's Persistent (Weak Layer) Vodka and include a raffle for a backcountry kit (beacon, shovel, and probe) donated by Backcountry.com. Contact [email protected] for details and reservations.

The Whole Foods Bag Donation to support the UAC has been extended to March 31. When you bring your own bags to Whole Foods in Sugar House, Trolley Square, and Cottonwood Heights you can choose to have the UAC be the recipient of your 10 cent bag credit.
current conditions

Yesterday's slightly underforecast storm, more than slightly overproduced... delivering a solid foot of snow across the range. Skies cleared last night and temperatures crashed quicker than the recent selloff of the Dow. Currently, temperatures are near zero. Factor in southwest winds blowing 15-20 mph and it doesn't take long to register wind chill readings of -21 degress along the high ridges. Yesterday might've been the day of the year... deep and light... over-the-hood and yep, over-the head. If you didn't get it Thursday, you still have time to redeem one of your sick day coupons today. Get after it early before the wind changes the snow quality later today.

Above are 24 hour temperatures and snow depth from Chalk Creek along with winds and temperatures from Windy Peak. More remote Uinta weather stations are found here

You can find a great body of recent trip reports, observations, and snow data here.


recent activity

Yesterdays snow and wind created predictable wind drifts along the upper elevations ridges and long running sluffs on steep, wind sheltered slopes.



Ted spotted spotted this natural avalanche while looking into Cataract Basin on Wednesday. He commented, "A few days old and not too surprised to see some natural activity in this heavy wind loaded area."
Avalanche Problem 1
type aspect/elevation characteristics
LIKELIHOOD
LIKELY
UNLIKELY
SIZE
LARGE
SMALL
TREND
INCREASING DANGER
SAME
DECREASING DANGER
over the next 24 hours
description

Yesterday's winds had no problem forming drifts sensitive to the additional weight of a rider. Surprisingly, recent drifts were not as widespread as I would've thought and mostly confined to the leeward side of upper elevation ridges. Overnight, winds remained well-behaved and i expect todays slabs will have the same characteristics... predictably breaking at or below your skis, board, or sled. Winds are expected to increase late in the day so you'll want to be on the lookout for and avoid any fat, rounded piece of snow, especially if it sounds hollow like a drum.
Avalanche Problem 2
type aspect/elevation characteristics
LIKELIHOOD
LIKELY
UNLIKELY
SIZE
LARGE
SMALL
TREND
INCREASING DANGER
SAME
DECREASING DANGER
over the next 24 hours
description

Mark, Toby, Ted, and Trent were stomping around on the North Slope Tuesday and confirmed the suspicions that it's a tale of two snowpacks on the eastern front and there's plenty of variabilty in depth and strength. Thanks to this crew for the great observation. Their collective insight is found here. The Clif Notes version is- where the pack is deep, it's comfortable in it's own skin, resiliant, can take a thump and may be unreactive... that's good news, suggesting we're trending in the right direction.

Where the pack is shallow, it's weaker and will be more reactive with more snow, wind, water, or our additional weight. Suspect terrain includes slopes that avalanched big earlier this season (think Double Hill, Humpy Drainage, Moffit Basin), along with steep, rocky slopes.

weather

After a sunny start, clouds stream in and thicken later this afternoon as a weak system grazes the northern half of the state. Westerly winds increase and are expected to blow in the 40's by days end. High temperatures crack into the mid 20's with overnight lows in the teens. A warmer day is on tap for Saturday with a good looking storm developing for Sunday through the early portion of next week... keep your eyes crossed :)
general announcements

The information in this advisory expires 24 hours after the date and time posted, but will be updated by 7:00 AM Saturday February 17th, 2018.

If you're getting out and about, please let me know what you're seeing especially if you see or trigger and avalanche. I can be reached at [email protected] or 801-231-2170

It's also a good time to set up one of our very popular avalanche awareness classes. Reach out to me and I'll make it happen.

This information does not apply to developed ski areas or highways where avalanche control is normally done. This advisory is from the U.S.D.A. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. This advisory describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.