UDOT PLANNED AVALANCHE CLOSURES!!

Forecast for the Uintas Area Mountains

Craig Gordon
Issued by Craig Gordon for
Saturday, December 23, 2017

In mid and upper elevations, at and above treeline, a MODERATE avalanche danger exists. Human triggered avalanches are possible, especially on steep, wind drifted slopes, and particularly on slopes facing the north half of the compass.

South facing terrain, at mid and lower elevations offer LOW avalanche danger.

Low
Moderate
Considerable
High
Extreme
Learn how to read the forecast here
Special Announcements


In partnership with the Brighton Ski Patrol, we'll be giving a free avalanche awareness presentation tonight focusing on why shallow snowpack winters, just like this year, are so dangerous once it does start snowing.

Weather and Snow

Skies are mostly cloudy, temperatures in the the teens, and light snow is falling. A weak, little system slid through the region last night, adding a thin coat of white paint and delivering 3" of snow. West and southwest winds just starting increasing in the past hour or so and are blowing in the 20's and 30's along the high ridges. The past few storms aren't block busters, but they have vastly improved riding and turning conditions. Heads up... go lightly. With only 18"-24" of total snow on the ground, it's still super thin out there.


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

Mark Staples and the Back Country Institute (BCI) crew were near Double Hill yesterday, whilst Ted and I were in Upper Moffit Basin. In either case, our trip reports and findings can be seen here.

With it's easy access, Wolf Creek Pass is a seamless pre or post work grab. However... just 'cause you can see your rig from the ridge, doesn't mean the snowpack is good to go or shares your same level of stoke.

Recent Avalanches

No recent avalanche activity to report. Ted did find this old pocket near Gold Hill yesterday and commented that slopes which avalanched earlier this season are quite shallow and weak. While yesterday's storm didn't push us over the edge, these are the types of slopes that could easily come back to life with additional snow, water, and wind. (Scroggin photo)

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Avalanche Problem #1
Wind Drifted Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description

Winds are always the great equalizer on the eastern front and with a little new snow to work with today, they'll have no problem whipping up a fresh batch of drifts. Found on the leeward side of upper elevation ridges, particularly those facing the north half of the compass, you'll want to look for and avoid any fat, rounded piece of snow, especially if it sounds hollow like a drum. Remember- clues to unstable snow include shooting cracks and whoomphing sounds or collapses of the snowpack. The bummer with a shallow snowpack and low tide conditions is, triggering even a small slide greatly increases your chances of slamming into a season ending rock or stump.

Avalanche Problem #2
Persistent Weak Layer
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description

Here's where it gets tricky. We've got a complex snowpack with a myriad of crusts and weak, sugary snow sandwiched in between. While our recent storms aren't tipping the balance with water weight just yet, the problem is.... we've got a deceptively tricky snowpack.. As a matter of fact, this layering is the kind of combination when I see the vast majority of close calls and near misses in the western Uinta's. Persistent weaknesses in the snowpack complicate the avalanche stability picture because this structure allows you to get well out onto the slope before it fails. If we get more snow and wind than forecast today, once triggered, today's avalanche could quickly get of hand as it breaks to weaker snow near the ground. Remember- there are plenty of south facing slopes you can ride throughout the range where you don't even have to deal with this issue.

South half of the range- this snowpit above clearly illustrates the complex snow structure on shady, north facing slopes.

North half of the range... much different snowpack

Click here for a short viddy describing the setup.

Additional Information


A weak, but moist system moves through the region today and we should pick up another 3"-5" of snow. It'll be a little warmer than yesterday with high temperatures in the mid 20's. Westerly winds blow in the 30's and 40's with gust to 60 mph along the high peaks. A dry northwest flow follow for tonight with clearing skies and lows in the single digits. Another warm front crosses northern Utah late Sunday through midday Monday bringing more snow.

General Announcements

The information in this advisory expires 24 hours after the date and time posted, but will be updated by 7:00 AM Sunday December 24, 2017.

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.