Skies are clear in the mountains this morning, but overnight we managed to squeeze a trace to an inch of snow out of the moist, northwesterly flow. Temperatures are in the teens and 20s and the west to northwesterly winds gusty and increasing. While most stations have speeds of less than 15 mph, with gusts in the 20’s, the high peaks are averaging 25 to 35 mph averages, with gusts to 50.
I got out for a few turns yesterday afternoon, and had no complaints with the dense powder at the upper elevations – supportable for snowshoers, snowmobilers and turning. Today, search for wind sheltered slopes, and for everyone, rocks remain issue, coupled with icy slopes at the lower elevations.
No avalanches were reported from the backcountry yesterday, though the Cottonwood resorts managed to pry out 2 slides with explosives or cornice drops (upper elevation, northerly facing slopes). Explosive control work in the Ogden area mountains had no results. In the Provo area mountains, a large natural sluff on east facing Robert’s Horn was noted, that probably occurred two days ago.
