January 1 Avalanche Conditions:

There was one skier triggered slide reported yesterday on Figure 8 hill in the Brighton backcountry. It was a 1 to 1 ½ foot deep wind slab on a northeast facing, 35 degrees slope at about 9,800’. The skier was knocked down, but then got out to the side. Several people reported seeing small wind slabs that released naturally in Big Cottonwood and Mill Creek. These were described as shallow pockets, many on northeasterly facing slopes. With increasing winds, the greatest avalanche danger will continue be on steep, recently wind loaded slopes, especially along the higher ridges and in big open bowls. Cornices will be very sensitive. As you travel, look for and avoid any slopes with recent deposits of wind drifted snow. Last night’s snow is now hiding these wind drifts, making them harder to see, but they will be most common on north, northeast, and easterly facing slopes.

Yesterday, one deeper release into old snow was reported from control work along the Park City ridgeline. This slide was on a southeast facing slope, 3 to 4’deep, 150’ wide, and ran just above or on the brown dirt layer. Slides breaking into deeper, pre-Christmas snow layers have now occurred in the Provo, Ogden, Uinta and Park City mountains. As we once again put another big load on the snowpack, the potential for deeper slides increases.