Avalanche Advisory
Advisory: Logan Area Mountains Issued by Toby Weed for Saturday - February 1, 2014 - 7:31am
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Heightened avalanche conditions exist, and there is a Level 2 or MODERATE danger on steep drifted slopes in the backcountry. Triggered wind slab avalanches 1 to 2 feet deep are possible on steep drifted slopes. Although existing widespread persistent weak layers appear dormant currently, more dangerous and potentially destructive persistent slab avalanches stepping down into weak faceted old snow are possible in some areas and in some cases might be triggered remotely, from a distance, or the flats below steep slopes. Evaluate the snow and terrain carefully this weekend, and continue to avoid steep drifted slopes.

  • Avalanche accidents are common when the danger is MODERATE, so continue to use strict safe travel protocols.
  • Expose only one at a time to steep slopes and avalanche paths. Keep a close eye on everybody.
  • Be sure everyone has a beacon, probe, and shovel. And, you need to practice with this stuff!
  • Make conservative decisions when venturing into steep terrain. You can always come back some other time.
current conditions

The Tony Grove Snotel at 8400' reports an inch of new snow in the last 24 hours, it's 13 degrees and there's 57 inches of total snow containing 80% of average water content for the date. It's 5 degrees at the 9700' Logan Peak weather station, and the wind sensor is still rimed or incrusted by ice. I'm currently reading light and variable winds up at the UDOT Hwy 89 Logan Summit weather station. I did not venture into steep avalanche terrain yesterday, but I noticed a few people did and I observed no avalanches and none were reported. I've found and observers report good smooth, fast, and supportable riding conditions across the Bear River Range. It's fun and somewhat unusual floating on top of the heavy, maritime-like new snow. Trail breaking is fairly easy due to great floatation on both skis and on a sled.

The heavy new snow appears well pasted in place. Providence Peak 1-31-2014 (Weed).... observation

***Bruce Tremper explains the northern Utah snow situation well in this video observation from the Wasatch yesterday, 1-31-2014.
recent activity

Backcountry skiers triggered a handfull of nice soft slab avalanches in the Central Wasatch Range Thursday and yesterday. Locally; other than expected wet activity at low elevations in Logan Canyon due to Wednesday's rain, no new avalanches have been reported since our very active and lucky deep slab cycle during the second weekend in 2014.

Skier triggered avalanche from Thursday in the Central Wasatch Range. Report HERE. (White)
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

It appears that the over 2.5" of water weight in the 15 inches of heavy new snow from Wednesday in the Central Bear River Range wasn't enough to reactivate the widespread very weak faceted layers and depth hoar that plague the Logan Zone, but it could have in some areas. In areas where the preexisting snow is shallow it is very weak, and dangerous triggered persistent slab and/or deep slab avalanches failing on buried faceted weak layers are possible on steep slopes. Although persistent slab activity was not yet observed locally since the mild midweek storm, in some areas you still might trigger avalanches remotely, from a distance or even from the flats below steep slopes. We haven't seen the last of these pesky facets by any means, they are just lying in dormancy. Trent Meisenheimer released a great video earlier in the week about persistent slab avalanches. View it ...HERE
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

The heavy new snow from Wednesday appears to be fairly well behaved, and no significant wind slab avalanches were observed or reported locally. But, backcountry riders triggered a handful of avalanches in the Wasatch Range, and my snowpit tests show instability, with small grained near surface facets on the old snow interface. Wind slabs 1 to 2 feet deep, failing on the sugary old snow surface are possible in drifted terrain, especially in upper elevation lee slope areas. Also, watch for and avoid stiffer wind deposited snow in and around terrain features like gullies, scoops, sub-ridges, and rock bands or cliffs at upper elevations and on slopes facing all directions..
weather

Cool, unsettled weather and a northwest flow will continue through tomorrow in the mountains, but not much in the way of additional accumulation is expected. There's a chance of a little snow today, but only a little accumulation is likely. 8500' high temperatures will get up to around 18 degrees, with sub zero wind chills due to a continuing moderate west northwest wind. Temperatures will drop to around 10 degrees overnight. It'll be mostly sunny tomorrow, with high temperatures just under 20 degrees and light winds. After a break on Sunday, the weather pattern looks like it will get active next week. The first storm system will effect our area beginning late Monday. More snow and potentially stormy weather is likely to continue through the coming week as trough of low pressure sets up and a much more productive flow takes control.

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

For a safer powder option; Discount lift tickets are available at Backcountry.com - Thanks to Ski Utah and the Utah Resorts, including Beaver Mountain. All proceeds go towards paying for Utah Avalanche Center avalanche and mountain weather advisories.

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I'll issue these advisories on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday mornings. 

This advisory is produced by the U.S.D.A. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. It describes only general avalanche conditions and local variations always exist.