Thanks to everyone who came out to ProSAW yesterday. We have such a committed and engaged avalanche community in Utah.
Each resort in Utah has their own policies regarding uphill travel. Check out the summary of each resort's policy before traveling uphill. For further questions contact the resort directly.
SAVE THE DATE!
Skies are partly cloudy with light winds from the west. Most of the 'weather' is in the Pacific Northwest and BC, so we'll just have to enjoy the last hints of autumn. Other than a mostly dry cold front and a lost snowflake or two expected for late Monday/early Tuesday, we'll have sunny skies and light wind through the week. Daytime temps will be in the 40s and 50s in the mountains. In truth, it's perfect weather to continue to weaken and deteriorate our early season 10-20" thick snowpack, which is already a mix of weak sugary facets, crusts and wind effect: standard fare for this time of year.
The good news is that a pattern change is on tap for late next weekend, where a series of storms roll in from the northwest. As always, the devil is in the details and the various weather models, including the AI-enhanced models, don't see eye to eye. Regardless, it's not a blocking ridge, so there's that. Stay tuned.
It is possible to travel on skis, splitboards, and snowshoes, but you'll really need to want it. Longtime UAC observer Mark White likes to say with conditions like these, There's a high price for admission. With clear skies expected for the next several days, pay attention to how the snow surface changes. Snow that weakens on northerly-facing slopes during extended dry periods can become a buried weak layer once the next storm arrives, so it’s worth tracking now.
Upper LCC, 4FN
Triggering an avalanche is unlikely but not impossible. Yesterday, a person triggered and was caught and briefly carried in a small slab avalanche in *very steep* terrain on Mt Baldy in upper Little Cottonwood. You can see his photo below and read his report HERE. Terrain is an amplifier of consequence. He wrote, "If it carried me all the way I would have went into a meat grinder for sure."
