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Wasatch-Cache National Forest  In partnership with:  Utah State Parks and Recreation, Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center-Logan, and Utah State University College of Natural Resources.

               

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Logan area Avalanche advisory

Early Season Avalanche Statement

 November 1, 2006

Hello, this is Toby Weed of the Utah Avalanche Center in Logan with a special early season avalanche statement.  It's Wednesday November 1st, and it's 7:30 in the morning.  This advisory is brought to you in part by the Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center in Logan with the help of the Cache Valley community.

Current Conditions:

Shady slopes above about the 8000' elevation line are holding snow, and you can find low angled smooth and grassy areas where turns are possible.  On these slopes, a thin but solid layer of early season snow caps the ground and keeps you off most of the the rocks.  But, you should certainly keep your speed down and be wary of numerous shallowly buried land mines. The snow is still a bit too shallow around here for riding sleds, and  we'll have to wait for the snow to pile up a bit so as not to damage our machines or the underlying vegetation.  I hear there's some good road riding on the higher elevation Mirror Lake Highway, which runs between Evanston Wyoming and Kamas Utah.

Avalanche Conditions: 

 There's just not enough snow to create much of an avalanche danger right now, and avalanches are generally unlikely in the region.  But that will change pretty quickly with the next snowstorm.  Under the influence of a strong temperature gradient, last week's powder has turned into a few inches of sugary or faceted snow.  Resting on the now very solid base layer, (or future sliding surface), this sugary snow will become a suspect weak layer on many slopes once it's buried.  Avalanches will become possible with new snow accumulation, especially if accompanied by wind.

General Information: 

I'm back in the office now, and I'll start producing regular advisories as soon as there's enough snow in the backcountry. Logan Area advisories will be accessible through the new statewide toll-free avalanche info line, call 1-888-999-4019

I will give a free Avalanche Talk, open to all, at the Logan Ranger District offices at 1500 E Hwy 89 in Logan on Tuesday, November 21 at 6:30.  I'm in the process of planning free talks and avalanche classes, so if you or your group would like to schedule me in, you should make arrangements soon.

If you're confused by some of our avalanche terms check out the cool new Avalanche Encyclopedia.  Please  send backcountry observations to [email protected] or leave us a message at 755-3638, especially if you see or trigger an avalanche in the backcountry.

The information in this advisory is from the U.S. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content.  This advisory describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.