For the 2017/2018 winter, we're excited to introduce the Utah Avalanche Center podcast, hosted by forecaster Drew Hardesty and produced by KUER's Benjamin Bombard. On the podcast, you'll find engaging stories, interviews, and lessons learned - all things avalanche, all to help Keep people on top of the greatest snow on earth instead of buried beneath it - and easily found on ITunes, Stitcher, the UAC blog, or wherever you get your podcasts. You can find the first podcast, released yesterday here.
Drew also has written a blog entry "Those Who Cannot Remember the Past ....". This important discussion highlights the relationship between years with lean snowpack and an increase in avalanche fatalities. You can read it here.
Don’t know what to buy your favorite skier for Christmas? Discount lift tickets for Alta, Snowbird, Brighton, Solitude, Deer Valley, Snowbasin,and Beaver Mountain are now available, donated by the resorts to benefit the Utah Avalanche Center. Details and order information here. These make a great holiday gift and all proceeds go towards paying for avalanche forecasting and education!
Skies are cloudy, and very light snow is still falling in the mountains. The few inches of 5% density snow are less than hoped for. Snow totals:
- Ogden area mountains – 1 to 5”
- Park City side – 2 to 4”
- Cottonwooods – 5 to 9”
- Provo area mountains – 1 to 3”
Temperatures are currently averaging 10 F at the Provo area mountain weather stations, and winds are out of the southwest and generally light, with gusts in the teens.
The low to mid elevation slopes in the Provo area mountains below about 9500' are mostly bare, with only patchy snow. Ice climbing and hiking may be the current activities of choice for the Provo area mountains.