There is MODERATE avalanche danger on most steep slopes in the backcountry around Logan, but a CONSIDERABLE danger remains in steep drifted terrain at upper elevations. Heightened avalanche conditions exist because dangerous triggered persistent or deep slab avalanches 1 to 3 feet deep are possible in many areas.... These are most likely above around 8000 feet in elevation on north through southeast facing slopes steeper than about 35 degrees.

Continue to use careful snowpack evaluation, cautious route finding, and conservative decision-making in avalanche terrain today....

There is wide variety in the snow across the zone, and the snowpack is showing good signs of stabilization in many areas. But, recent avalanche activity and poor snow structure at higher elevations in the Central and Northern Bear River Range dictate caution…. The now somewhat stiff snow in the upper levels of the snow mostly supports the weight of even a 4-stroke sled, and you can ride almost anywhere you dare. It appears that shallowly buried rocks and lingering dangerous avalanche conditions are keeping most folks off of the steep upper elevation hills and many slopes remain untracked so far this season……

Its 35 degrees at the Campbell Scientific weather station on Logan Peak at 9700', and there's a light breeze from the north-northeast... At 6:00 this morning, the 8400' Tony Grove Snotel reports 38 inches of total snow on the ground, and the station sits at a dismal 47% of average water content for the date....

We hope to hear more about a scary near miss Friday (1-8-10) in the Northern Bear River Mountains near Bloomington Lake ID...Luckily everyone is OK after four sledders triggered and were "involved in" a large avalanche... A couple sledders also triggered a nice hard slab avalanche up in the Tony Grove Area on Friday...It was on a fairly small, sunny hill, especially compared to the surrounding terrain, but it was a fairly big and dangerous avalanche non-the-less. I posted Jeremy's report here

Looking across Franklin Basin yesterday from Beaver Mountain, I noticed a few fresh looking and broad avalanches in the upper Hell's Kitchen Canyon, which must have occurred late last week or over the weekend...

Here's an updated local backcountry avalanche list:

If you have a new and exciting avalanche story we'd love to hear it.... Or if you see avalanche activity that I miss in this big country. Please shoot us an email uac@utahavalanchecenter.org or call me at (435)-757-7578 ....The information you provide may save lives.

A strong high pressure system set up over the region for the early part of the week will keep the smog trapped in the valley while warm temperatures and sunshine continue to burn-out the shallow snow cover on sunny slopes...

Our nearest hope for relief comes on Wednesday, with a chance for a little snow in the mountains...But the weak storm is likely to split before reaching Northern Utah, with the southern energy, in the form of a cutoff low, heading south and affecting mainly southwest desert regions.....

I will be issuing morning avalanche advisories for the Logan area on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

Consider purchasing some Beaver Mountain lift tickets here from our good friends at Backcountry.com in partnership with Ski Utah. All proceeds benefit the Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center.

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Send us your avalanche and snow observations. You can also call me at 435-757-7578 or the SLC office at 800-662-4140, or email to uac@utahavalanchecenter.org

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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.

I will update this forecast Wednesday morning. Thanks for checking in....