General Conditions: Wind speeds really dropped off over the last 24 hours. They are from the east or southeast this morning and are light. Temperatures are around 10°F this morning, and it is lightly snowing. The new snow has greatly improved riding conditions. However, you will find many areas where you are sinking through all the new snow, then sinking deeper into the weak facets below. I noticed this both on skis and snowmachines. While ascending a low-angle slope, my track was trenching very deeply into the old facets. It felt like there was no base.
Mountain Weather: We'll see one last small storm impulse move through today that could add a couple more inches of snow. The wind should shift direction and blow from the west northwest and increase in speed a bit during the day. It should stay in the light to moderate speed categories. The storm moves out tonight and we'll see clear skies and warming temperatures this weekend.
The UAC is deeply saddened to report two avalanche fatalities. The first occurred on Wednesday, February 18th in the Big Flat area of Snake Creek near Midway. A snowmobiler was caught, carried, and buried in an avalanche, and unfortunately, recovery efforts were unsuccessful. The preliminary report can be found HERE.
The second fatality occurred on Thursday, February 19th, in the backcountry adjacent to Brighton Ski Resort. A girl skiing was caught, carried, and buried by an avalanche and did not survive. Our sincerest condolences are with all those impacted. The UAC is investigating both accidents in partnership with local law enforcement.
On the Skyline, numerous human triggered avalanches were reported:
Photo below: UDOT snowcat triggered avalanche, Skyline Summit, Kobernik
