The Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center in Logan is offering a Backcountry 101 class, starting tonight and including a field day in the backcountry tomorrow. You can still register on line... . click HERE for more details....

There is a Level 1 or Low danger in the backcountry around Logan, and avalanches are generally unlikely. Exceptions and pockets of level 2 or Moderate danger exist in steep upper elevation terrain. Shallow triggered wind slab avalanches are possible on a few slopes exposed to drifting. More dangerous and deeper old wind slabs are unlikely but possible on isolated very steep slopes with poor snow structure on the highest peaks. Generally manageable, but potentially long running, triggered loose dry sluffs are again probable on very steep slopes. Generally safe avalanche conditions exist in the backcountry for now, but you should evaluate the snow and terrain carefully in steep areas, especially on exposed upper elevation slopes..

Conditions are still too shallow for off-track powder riding, and I've been sticking to roadways and following your tracks in the smooth upper elevation meadows. You have to keep your speed down because you sink pretty deeply into sugary recrystallized snow, and it's quite easy to hit buried rocks, stumps, or down trees... Sunny slopes sport crusty surface snow, but you can find enjoyable although droppy, Colorado-like turning on shaded slopes. The snow is fast making even very low angled slopes pretty fun...

The Tony Grove Snotel at 8400' reports 19 degrees this morning, and there is 30 inches of total snow on the ground.. With 6.9 inches of water equivalent, the station sits at 70% of average for the date..It's 14 degrees at the 9700' CSI Logan Peak weather station, and there is a northwest wind averaging in the mid teens..

I triggered a shallow wind slab yesterday near the ridge in the Hunter's Cave Area. The small soft slab on an east facing slope at around 9500' in elevation was 4 to 6 inches deep and around 20 feet wide, and it stopped after running only a few feet. I'm thinking there could be a few more of these little slabs scattered about, and some could be a bit bigger...

Looks like a return to mostly sunny and warmer weather in the mountains for the weekend... Expect sunny skies with 8000' high temperatures around 29 degrees and a light northwest wind today. It will be around 10 degrees warmer in the mountains tomorrow and the winds are supposed to stay fairly light. The next in the seemingly endless stream of splitting storms will affect the zone on Monday with a slight chance of accumulating snow. A better chance of this comes late Wednesday into Thursday, but significant snowfall will likely not occur before Christmas.

You have the opportunity to participate in the creation of our own community avalanche advisory by submitting avalanche and snow observations. You can also call us at 435-757-7578 or 801-524-5304 or email by clicking HERE

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I will update this advisory by around 7:30 in the morning on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.....

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