Avalanche Advisory
Advisory: Logan Area Mountains Issued by Toby Weed for Tuesday - November 19, 2013 - 7:18am
bottom line

Heightened avalanche conditions exist at upper elevations in the backcountry, you could trigger persistent slab or wind slab avalanches on steep slopes and the overall danger is MODERATE (or level 2). Also, pockets with a CONSIDERABLE (or level 3) danger can be found at the highest elevations on some slopes facing the northeast quarter of the compass. Triggered wind slab and persistent slab avalanches are still probable in steep upper elevation terrain and are most likely on smooth slopes with preexisting weak snow. Careful snowpack evaluation, cautious routefinding, and conservative decision making will be essential today, and you should continue to avoid steep and especially drifted slopes at upper elevations. Very shallow, early season snow conditions exist.
current conditions

The weekend storm was quite productive, and the Tony Grove Snotel now reports 17 inches of total snow with 3.6 inches of water equivalent, amazingly back up to 98% of normal water content for the date. It's already 34 degrees up at 8400' and 26 up at the 9700' Logan Peak weather station where sustained southwest wind blew all night, averaging around 30 mph, with a recorded gust of 46 mph early this morning. The Tony Grove Road is not maintained for wheeled travel in the winter, and the road is mostly packed with snow and ice. Even so, lots of people have been driving 4-wheel-drive vehicles up to the parking lot at the lake.

It's a good time to check your avalanche rescue equipment, change to fresh batteries in your beacon, and test it's range. Refresh yourself and your partners with easy companion rescue scenarios in the early season. History shows that early avalanches are not uncommon in the area, and you need to start the winter season on top of your game.

Check out my video observation from 11-18-2013 in the Tony Grove Area.......HERE
recent activity

No avalanches have yet been reported in the backcountry around Logan.
Avalanche Problem 1
type aspect/elevation characteristics
LIKELIHOOD
LIKELY
UNLIKELY
SIZE
LARGE
SMALL
TREND
INCREASING DANGER
SAME
DECREASING DANGER
over the next 24 hours
description

The shallow old snow from the Halloween storms remained on upper elevation north facing slopes, and it has become very weak and faceted.. The weekend storm created a nice slab overloading the preexisting weak snow. Triggered slab avalanches releasing on the sugary old snow are possible today, especially on smooth upper elevation slopes. Persistent slab avalanches could be triggered remotely, from a distance, or worse from below. Watch for and reassess your route in the case of obvious signs of instability like fresh avalanche activity, cracking within the new snow, or audible collapsing.
Avalanche Problem 2
type aspect/elevation characteristics
LIKELIHOOD
LIKELY
UNLIKELY
SIZE
LARGE
SMALL
TREND
INCREASING DANGER
SAME
DECREASING DANGER
over the next 24 hours
description

Strong overnight southwest wind drifted snow into avalanche starting zones and created more slabs at upper elevations. You could trigger a one to two-foot-deep wind slab avalanche on a steep drifted slope today, especially in a terrain feature like a gully or scoop that has old faceted snow as a basal layer. Keep in mind that with shallow early season snow cover and sharp rocks everywhere, a ride in even a small avalanche will be fairly dangerous.

weather

An increasingly moist unsettled flow will develop today and continue through Wednesday, bringing south winds and some snow to the Bear River Range. 1 to 3 inches of accumulation is forecast for upper elevations today, with 2 to 4 tonight, with similar amounts forecast for tomorrow. Temperatures will be on the mild side today, with a high at 8500' forecast to be around 38 degrees and moderate southwest wind. Overnight lows will be in the upper twenties.. Clearing and fair weather is a good bet for later in the week.

Check out our one stop weather page........HERE
general announcements

Our annual "Pray for Snow" fundraiser/party is scheduled for the evening of December 5 at the Italian Place in downtown Logan, and you are invited, so save the date. 

Sign up early for one of our life-saving avalanche classes.......HERE           And refresh your avalanche knowledge, check out some of our tutorials........HERE

Follow us at UAClogan on Twitter

Stay tuned for my early season intermittent updates, and I'll start issuing regular backcountry advisories as soon as there is enough snow for you to get out on.