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Forecast for the Uintas Area Mountains

Craig Gordon
Issued by Craig Gordon on
Wednesday morning, December 27, 2017

HEADS UP.... IT REMAINS SKETCHY OUT THERE TODAY AND AVALANCHE CONDITIONS ARE DECEPTIVELY TRICKY

In upper elevations, at and above treeline, the avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE. Human triggered avalanches are likely, especially on steep, wind drifted slopes, and particularly on slopes facing the north half of the compass.

MODERATE avalanche danger exists on mid and low elevation shady slopes. Human triggered avalanches are possible on steep slopes with recent deposits of wind drifted snow.

Low elevation south facing slopes and terrain that held no snow prior to the Christmas Eve storm offer generally LOW avalanche danger.

Low
Moderate
Considerable
High
Extreme
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Weather and Snow

As weak high pressure builds over the region, skies remained clear overnight and temperatures are in the teens and low 20's. West and southwest winds blow in the 20's and 30's along the high ridges. No new snow overnight, but the Christmas storm was good to the eastern front, delivering close to 2' of much needed snow. Riding and turning conditions are quickly improving, but even with this thick coat of fresh, white paint it's still super thin out there.

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

Recent 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.

The graphic above says it all... lean is optimal in some cases, but when it comes to snowpack it leads to dangerous avy conditions.

Recent Avalanches

It didn't take long to know avalanche conditions were dicey. This slide on a road bank was clearly visible just a few minutes into our ride from the Nobletts Trailhead


Continuing up the trail past Mill Hollow Reservoir we spotted this 3' deep x 500' wide avalanche on a steep wind drifted slope in Campbell Hollow.




Click HERE for a viddy describing what we're seeing.

HEADS UP- THESE AVALANCHES WERE TRIGGERED REMOTELY, FROM A DISTANCE... WITHOUT EVEN BEING ON THE SLOPE!

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Avalanche Problem #1
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. Yes, 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.

Before the Christmas Eve storm, we got nickled, dimed, and teased with bits and pieces of little storms and there wasn't enough weight to activate any of the buried weak layers. However, with the recent round of snow and wind I think we've hit a critical crossroads and our complex snowpack is teetering on the edge. As a matter of fact, I bet It won't take much to kick the legs out from under the slab and I think you can initiate a slide from a distance or low on the slope. Once triggered, an avalanche could quickly get of hand as it breaks to weaker snow near the ground.

The best strategy is easy... it's avoidance. Simply avoid being on or underneath steep, wind drifted slopes facing the north half fo the compass. 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.

Avalanche Problem #2
Wind Drifted Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description

West and southwest winds continued blowing into the 40's and 50's for most of yesterday and even though they're running out of fresh snow to work with, they continued whipping up a fresh batch of stiff wind slabs. While found mostly along the leeward side of mid and upper elevation ridges, I wouldn't be too surprised to find sensitive drifts cross-loaded around terrain features like chutes and gully walls. Common theme is... slabs are most prevalent on slopes facing the north half of the compass. Today you'll want to look for and avoid any fat, rounded piece of snow, especially if it sounds hollow like a drum. The snowpack is still relatively thin and the bummer with low tide conditions is, triggering even a small slide greatly increases your chances of slamming into a season ending rock or stump.


Remember- clues to unstable snow include shooting cracks and whoomphing sounds or collapses of the snowpack. (Michael J image)

Additional Information

After a sunny start we should see increasing clouds towards the afternoon as a weak system bumps to our north. High temperatures rise into the 30's with overnight low in the teens. West and southwest winds are gonna be annoying, blowing in the 30's and 40's along the high ridges. Not much going on in the weather department through the end of the week.
General Announcements

The information in this advisory expires 24 hours after the date and time posted, but will be updated by 7:00 AM Thursday December 28, 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.

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