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Forecast for the Uintas Area Mountains

Craig Gordon
Issued by Craig Gordon for
Friday, January 25, 2019
DECEPTIVELY TRICKY AVALANCHE CONDITIONS CONTINUE ON THE EASTERN FRONT
In the wind zone at and above treeline, you'll find you'll find CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger. Human triggered avalanches are PROBABLE on all steep wind drifted slopes, particularly those with an easterly component to their aspect. Any avalanche that breaks into deeper buried weak layers near the ground will result in a scary and very dangerous avalanche that will instantly ruin your day.
MODERATE avalanche danger exists on steep, mid elevation slopes facing the north half of the compass and human triggered avalanches are POSSIBLE.
Here's your exit strategy.... lower elevation terrain might be bushy but still offers cold snow and a generally LOW avalanche danger.
Low
Moderate
Considerable
High
Extreme
Learn how to read the forecast here
Weather and Snow
Under partly cloudy skies temperatures are in the low teens and an inch or two of snow has fallen in the past 24 hours. Westerly winds increased yesterday afternoon and blew in the 30's, peaking into the 50's right around dinnertime, but have relaxed somewhat and currently blow in the mid 20's along the high peaks. Excellent riding and turning conditions are found on wind sheltered mid and low elevation slopes.
Above is hourly data from Trial Lake (9,945') and Windy Peak (10,662'). To view more regional weather stations click here.
Recent Avalanches
Not so breaking news from Tuesday-
A couple days old, but significant none-the-less... a large, deep, and dangerous sled triggered slide near Humpy Basin from earlier in the week, broke on weak snow close to the ground and took this rider for a wild ride. His sled was partially buried, but he came out on top. With better visibily we'll visit this site today and report back. Thanks to Michael J for providing the preliminary info found here.
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Avalanche Problem #1
Persistent Weak Layer
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
The snowpack is getting comfortable in own it's skin and slowly adjusting to last weeks big storm. However, recent snowpit stability tests and a couple isolated collapses suggest our adolescent pack has a few growing pains to sort through and the distinct possibility of triggering a deep, dangerous slide still exists. And while it occurred earlier in the week, Tuesday's big slide clearly shows us that in the right terrain you can still trigger an avalanche that gets quickly out of hand. Now here's where it gets even more tricky. Many steep slopes throughout the range experienced a widespread natural avalanche cycle late last week, but recent snow and wind has filled in much of that evidence. So today it's all gonna look white and that's the challenge. You can ride some slopes without incident (perhaps they already slid) and think you're good to go, while an adjacent slope that remained intact throughout the storm, is just waiting for a trigger like us to roll up and tip the balance.
So, as the snowpack strengthens we're faced with a personal travel conundrum... the chances of triggering a large slide diminish, while the consequences remain just as devastating. With odds like that I'm not willing to bet my life on it and I'm not willing to bet yours either! Fact is, we're at a critical juncture in the life of the snowpack where all it takes is for us to come along and collapse a slope, essentially knocking the legs out from underneath it, and now we're staring down the barrel of an unmanageably, dangerous avalanche.
Of course you wanna know... "how do we manage an unmanageable avalanche?" Well with all the great riding out there and plenty of alternative options, we simply avoid the terrain where it exists. You know the drill by now.... steep, rocky, wind drifted slopes, especially those facing the north half of the compass.
Both JG and Weston D were in lower elevation terrain yesterday and found similarities in their pits... relatively weak snow, a few collapses, but the snowpack is beginning to relax and adjust to last weeks big load.
More Uinta obs found here.
Avalanche Problem #2
Wind Drifted Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
Winds have been all over the place and there's no shortage of snow to blow around and form fresh, stiff drifts along the leeward side of upper elevation ridges and around chutes and gullies. Don't get fooled into thinking today's fresh drifts are the only avalanche dragon you're dealing with. Underneath the new drifts are several layers of old, connected drifts, that once triggered, will break deeper and wider than you might expect. Today you'll want to utilize all the awareness tools in your quiver. Look for obvious clues to unstable snow like shooting cracks out in front of our skis, board, or sled. Also remember to avoid any fat, rounded piece of snow especially if it sounds hollow like a drum. And finally the hugest clue... recent avalanches on the same kind of terrain you want to ride on.
Cracking around or out in front of your skis, board, or sled is a big indicator to wind drift formation. If you're seeing this red flag down low, you can expect a bigger brother version the higher you go in elevation.
Additional Information
A weak storm slides through the region late in the day producing scattered snow showers with a trace to a couple of traces of snow expected. High temperatures climb into the teens and northwest winds blow in the 30's and 40's along the high peaks. Ridging takes hold through the weekend, allowing for a warming trend to develop late Saturday into Sunday.
General Announcements
The information in this advisory expires 24 hours after the date and time posted, but will be updated by 7:00 AM Saturday January 26th, 2019.
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.
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