Special Avalanche Bulletin
THIS SPECIAL AVALANCHE ADVISORY IS FOR THE MOUNTAINS OF NORTHERN UTAH, TO INCLUDE SOUTHEAST IDAHO, THE BEAR RIVER RANGE, THE WASATCH RANGE, AND THE WESTERN UINTAS.
HEAVY SNOW AND STRONG WINDS HAVE LED TO DANGEROUS AVALANCHE CONDITIONS WITH MANY AVALANCHES BREAKING TO THE GROUND.
AVOID BEING ON OR BENEATH STEEP TERRAIN AS THESE AVALANCHES MAY BE TRIGGERED FROM BELOW.
THIS ADVISORY DOES NOT INCLUDE SKI AREAS OR HIGHWAYS WHERE AVALANCHE CONTROL IS NORMALLY DONE. FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT WWW.UTAHAVALANCHECENTER.ORG OR CALL 1-888-999-4019.
You'll be able to find nice deep powder riding conditions in the backcountry this weekend, and if you stick to lower angled, lower elevation, and sheltered terrain you'll be able to have fun and be safe. Heavy snowfall and sustained winds overloaded a widespread weak preexisting base, creating dangerous avalanche conditions in many areas. History tells us we're set up for avalanche accidents on a sunny weekend day after a major storm and natural avalanche cycle as the snow only gradually becomes more stable. On days like these people are likely to be lured by the powder sirens into steep drifted terrain. Resist the urge this weekend, and stick to slopes less than 30 degrees, play in the deep powder meadows well out from under the steeper hills, or explore those secret lower elevation powder stashes.
You'll be able to find great powder riding conditions in the backcountry this weekend. If you stick to lower angled terrain and stay off and out from under steep slopes, you'll be able to have fun in the deep powder and stay safe. (12-24-15)
After a very productive pre-Christmas storm, the Tony Grove Snotel at 8400' reports a gain of 5.3" of water and a few feet of snow since last weekend. The station is showing significant settlement of the fresh powder despite cold temperatures. It's 6 degrees this morning and there's now 62 inches of total snow, now containing 108% of average water content for the date. It's negative 1 degree at the 9700' CSI Logan Peak weather station, which is showing increasing winds from the northwest this morning, currently averaging around 15 mph.
Evidence of natural activity from the prolonged pre-Christmas storm is visible from Cache Valley, and looks to have been fairly widespread across the zone... Looks like a number of good sized avalanches occurred early in the storm, Monday Night or Tuesday. The crowns and debris piles are largely blown-in by substantial drifting and obscured by around 2 feet of powder received since. Of note; I could see evidence of significant activity in the usual suspect east facing paths in the Wellsville Range including Pine Canyon, on the east face of Mt. Magog, an in the Music Note Area in Mill Hollow. Of greater concern are the many suspect steep slopes and avalanche paths in the area that do not show any signs of recent natural activity. Many of these may sitting in a balanced state, just lying in wait for a person to trigger.
A fresh soft slab avalanche in drifted upper elevation terrain near Grandfather Cornice on Cornice Ridge. (12-24-15)
- Saturday (12-19-15): A very experienced local rider is lucky to be alive after triggering a good sized avalanche, being caught and carried through thick trees, and then being mostly buried and trapped in the debris. See Video Report
- Sunday (12-20-15): A skier reported remote triggering a large hard slab avalanche Sunday afternoon. ..... Go to his Report
Many large and dangerous natural and triggered avalanches have occurred around the state in the last few days, and it looks like it'll be a dangerous weekend as folks start venturing further out into the backcountry.
***To view our updated list of backcountry observations and avalanche activity from around Utah, go to our observations page