The danger is MODERATE for increasingly sensitive drifts on steep wind loaded terrain at the mid and upper elevations.
We'll update this advisory on Thanksgiving morning.
Special Announcements
For more info on the Ogden Backcountry Bash, click here
Our Education and Calendar pages are already chock-full of classes and events - find something that suits you, like our Companion Rescue workshops, a free Know Before You Go awareness talk, or sign up for our of our Backcountry 101 classes.
Unopened ski area terrain has a backcountry snowpack, as avalanche mitigation work has not been done. Each resort has different uphill travel policies - please abide by signage and closures and check in with the local ski patrol.
Weather and SnowSkies are overcast and mountain temperatures are in the upper 30s to low 40s. With a teaser riding by to the north, southwest winds are blowing 20-30mph along th ridgelines with gusts noted to 30mph well below the ridges. 12-18" of settled snow exists in the high country with a few inches at the trailheads.
Recent AvalanchesNone. A couple of good observations from the last two days -
Increasing westerly winds should put active and sensitive wind drifts on the radar. These drifts will be more pronounced on steep slopes with an easterly component, but terrain channeling may allow for drifts to be found on many possible aspects. Be particularly alert for drifts to the lee of ridgelines and cross-loaded in couloirs and gullies. Collapsing and cracking of snow pillows are immediate signs of instability.
We'll be under overcast skies with warm temps and gusty west to northwest winds to the tune of 25-35mph. The Ogden mtns may see a trace to an inch of snow today. Ridgetop temps push to the mid-40s by Thursday. Despite a few weak "storms" here and there, the longer range models look a bit bleak at the moment.
Remember your information can save lives. If you see anything we should know about, please help us out by submitting snow and avalanche conditions. You can also call us at 801-524-5304, email by clicking HERE, or include #utavy in your tweet or Instagram.
To get help in an emergency (to request a rescue) in the Wasatch, call 911. Be prepared to give your GPS coordinates or the run name. Dispatchers have a copy of the Wasatch Backcountry Ski map.
Backcountry Emergencies. It outlines your step-by-step method in the event of a winter backcountry incident.
If you trigger an avalanche in the backcountry, but no one is hurt and you do not need assistance, please notify the nearest ski area dispatch to avoid a needless response by rescue teams. Thanks.
EMAIL ADVISORY If you would like to get the daily advisory by email you will need to subscribe here.
DAWN PATROL Hotline updated daily by 5-530am - 888-999-4019 option 8.
TWITTER Updates for your mobile phone - DETAILS
UDOT canyon closures: LINK TO UDOT, or on Twitter, follow @UDOTavy, @CanyonAlerts or @AltaCentral
Utah Avalanche Center mobile app - Get your advisory on your iPhone along with great navigation and rescue tools.
Powderbird Helicopter Skiing - Blog/itinerary for the day
Lost or Found something in the backcountry? - http://nolofo.com/
To those skinning uphill at resorts: it is critical to know the resort policy on uphill travel. You can see the uphill travel policy for each resort here.
Benefit the Utah Avalanche Center when you shop from Backcountry.com or REI: Click this link for Backcountry.com or this link to REI, shop, and they will donate a percent of your purchase price to the UAC. Both offer free shipping (with some conditions) so this costs you nothing!
Benefit the Utah Avalanche Center when you buy or sell on ebay - set the Utah Avalanche Center as a favorite non-profit in your ebay account here and click on ebay gives when you buy or sell. You can choose to have your seller fees donated to the UAC, which doesn't cost you a penny.
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.
