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Forecast for the Logan Area Mountains

Toby Weed
Issued by Toby Weed for
Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Overall the avalanche danger is MODERATE in the backcountry, and you could trigger fresh wind slab or older persistent slab avalanches on drifted upper and mid elevation elevation slopes. There are also localized areas with poor snow structure and more dangerous conditions. I have included some CONSIDERABLE in my danger rose to show this at upper elevations and on slopes facing north through east... In some areas you are likely to trigger dangerous avalanches if you venture out on steep drifted slopes.. Carefully evaluate the snow and terrain, and make conservative decisions regarding your route selection today.

Low
Moderate
Considerable
High
Extreme
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Special Announcements

Join the Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center in Logan for a BC 101 avalanche class this week. The class will include a classroom session on Thursday evening, December 13th, and a field day on Saturday December 15th. Check this link for more details,,,, Avalanche BC 101 class or call 435-757-2794.

Weather and Snow

It's finally winter at upper elevations, and we've been finding some very good powder riding conditions on all aspects above around 8000' in elevation. Many slopes are now covered enough for skiing or boarding, while sledding is still somewhat limited to smooth, relatively rock-free meadows and upper elevation roadways. The Tony Grove Snotel reports 36 inches of total snow, 83% of normal for the date, and it's 28 degrees at 8400' this morning. South winds intensified overnight and are gusting in excess of 50 mph at the CSI Logan Peak weather station this morning, and it's 20 degrees at 9700'. Sheltered terrain will offer the best powder conditions today, with wind affected and drifted snow up higher.

The Tony Grove Road is not maintained for wheeled travel in the winter, and conditions are always changing. A couple vehicles made it to within a mile of the lake yesterday, but I could also see evidence of serious digging where folks obviously got very stuck. Be sure you are prepared with shovels and other emergency supplies if you attempt the drive.

Recent Avalanches

There were a couple more sizable triggered persistent slab avalanches in the Wasatch backcountry yesterday. Both were remote triggered from a distance, indicating a persistent weak layer and sugary faceted snow, and fitting into a developing pattern of instability on the Wasatch Back. (See the Wasatch Advisory ...)

My party intentionally triggered a smaller wind slab last week near Mt Magog in the Tony Grove Area, and so far this season, no other significant avalanches were reported in the Logan Zone...

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Avalanche Problem #1
Persistent Weak Layer
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description

Sustained and gusty southwest wind and periods of heavy snowfall in the past few days caused the danger of wind slab avalanches to rise and the problem to become more widespread. You could trigger fresh wind slab avalanches if you venture into steep drifted terrain at upper elevations. Wind slabs formed on the lee side of major ridgelines and in and around terrain features like gullies, scoops, sub-ridges, cliff bands, and rock outcroppings.. With very shallow snow cover still, this is not a good time to be taken for a ride through the sharp rocks or down trees and stumps that currently plague local avalanche run-out zones.

Avalanche Problem #2
New Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description

On some slopes, older wind slabs built on top of weak sugary snow called near surface facets, and we can expect a lingering persistent danger in these areas. Dangerous avalanches up to around 2-feet-deep and 100-feet-wide or wider are possible in steep upper elevation terrain, primarily on slopes facing north through east. Pay close attention to red flags like audible collapsing and cracking, avoid steep obviously drifted slopes, and make conservative decisions regarding your route...

Additional Information

A strong southwest flow will be in place overhead in advance of the next Pacific storm system, which will affect mainly southern Utah in the next few days. Expect fairly strong southwest winds today and mild temperatures in the mountains, with temperatures of around 30 degrees at 8500'. The weather will remain unsettled through the weekend in the north, a series of splitting storms with clouds and periods of light snowfall, but limited accumulations.. Our best chance in the near future looks like Friday night, with the models still disagreeing, but one outcome bringing a bit more snow into northern Utah....

Check out the Logan Mountain Weather page...

General Announcements

Discount lift tickets are in! Go to http://www.backcountry.com/utah-avalanche-center to get tickets from our partners at Ala, Beaver Mountain, Brighton, Canyons, Deer Valley, Park City, Powder Mountain, Snowbasin, Snowbird, Solitude, Sundance, and Wolf Mountain. All proceeds benefit the Utah Avalanche Center.

Deals on donated gear to benefit the UAC: Check out the Ebay charity auction w/ splitboards from Chimera, Never Summer, & Voile, skis from BD, Mtn Approach folding ski/pack kit, a Pieps beacon, Gecko Skins, Scarpa AT boots, & Fritschi brakes. CLICK HERE!!

Remember your information can save lives. If you see anything we should know about, please participate in the creation of our own community avalanche advisory by submitting snow and avalanche conditions. You can also call us at 801-524-5304 or email by clicking HERE. In the Logan Area you can contact Toby Weed directly at 435-757-7578.

This advisory is produced by the U.S. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. It describes only general avalanche conditions and local variations always exist.

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