UDOT PLANNED AVALANCHE CLOSURES!!

Forecast for the Salt Lake Area Mountains

Nikki Champion
Issued by Nikki Champion for
Wednesday, October 30, 2019
With this recent low density snow and slight winds, human and natural triggered avalanches will remain possible on steep upper elevation slopes, and within wind drifted terrain. These soft slabs still hold the potential to step down to underlying layers of crusts or sugary facets.
REMEMBER that traumatic injury may compound any avalanche accident...and sub-zero temps will complicate any rescue. Best to take the long view in this early season.

We will provide an update as conditions warrant. Until we get more snow and more data, we are not issuing danger ratings.
We are posting observations every day now, so submit an avalanche or observation HERE. Read observations HERE.
Low
Moderate
Considerable
High
Extreme
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Special Announcements
Join us this weekend at the 12th annual Greatest Snow (and avalanche workshop) on Earth. Tickets still on sale for Pro, Motorized and Open Session. More info
Weather and Snow
Octobruary is in full swing and while the storm has passed the cold temps are still lingering. Mountain temps are hovering near or below zero and wind chill is well below -20. Temperatures should be creeping up into the teens throughout the day. This most recent storm totals have settled to about a foot of low density snow at the upper elevations with a total snow pack between 1.5'-2'.

Avalanche Situation:
With the end of the recent storm event, the snowpack is a mix of wind and sun crusts, and facet sandwiches under a layer of recent low density snow. This upper layer of snow will continue to sluff naturally on steep terrain at upper elevations, and still holds the potential to step down to underlying crusts on steep east and west facing slopes. While the winds didn't blast yesterday, they were enough to move this low density snow around meaning human triggered wind slabs are possible in wind drifted terrain. This early season snowpack has a dramatic spatial variability and each slope should be assessed separately.
Weather Outlook:
The precipitation should be on hold for the remainder of the week, clear skies are expected with light winds and temps warming into the mid teens throughout the week.
Recent Avalanches
Yesterday in the Gunsight area within the boundaries of the closed Alta Ski Area a skier triggered a small soft slab of new snow with a crown of 14" and 5' wide at 10,100' on a Northeast aspect.
Video below.
Full Observation HERE.
Ski resorts all have different uphill travel policies. Some are closed to uphill travel, others are open to uphill travel.
Resorts that allow uphill travel can be great places to get in a little skiing especially in you know of a rock free slope, but it is backcountry terrain.
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Additional Information
If you go out, there are a few things to remember:
Hitting rocks and stumps is a real danger. Don't end your season before it starts with an injury from hitting one of these obstacles.
Avalanches are a possibility in upper elevation terrain.... It doesn't matter if you are hiking, hunting, skiing, etc., be prepared with rescue gear and a partner.
Ski resorts all have different uphill travel policies. Some are closed to uphill travel, others are open to uphill travel.
Resorts that allow uphill travel can be great places to get in a little skiing especially in you know of a rock free slope, but it should be treated as backcountry terrain.
More info HERE but check with each resort for the latest info.
General Announcements
This information does not apply to developed ski areas or highways where avalanche control is normally done. This forecast is from the U.S.D.A. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. This forecast describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.