Avalanche Advisory
Advisory: Logan Area Mountains Issued by Toby Weed for Friday - December 30, 2016 - 7:06am
bottom line

Heightened wind slab avalanche conditions exist on drifted slopes at upper and mid elevations. Triggered persistent slab avalanches are possible on slopes with buried weak layers. ​Evaluate the snow and terrain carefully.
special announcement

Join us January 5 and 7 for an avalanche awareness class in Logan. We'll spend Thursday evening in the classroom and Saturday in the field. You'll learn avalanche rescue techniques, safe travel protocol and terrain management. Treat yourself to the gift of knowledge. It may save your life.

Register online: https://utahavalanchecenter.org/classes/avalanche-awareness-class-logan-0

The National Avalanche Center just released their Avalanche Problems Explained video... Not all avalanches are made the same. As a result, travel and decisions in avalanche terrain are influenced by the kind of avalanche you expect to encounter. Watch HERE
current conditions

The Tony Grove Snotel at 8400' reports 30 degrees and 51" of total snow containing 113% of average SWE for the date. It's 24 degrees at the CSI Logan Peak weather station at 9700', and there is a 35 mph south wind, with gusts to 45 mph. There's still nice re-crystallized powder in sheltered areas, but wind and warmth have created a wide variety of snow conditions.

recent activity


12-27-16, Skier triggered avalanche above Paradise

Reported avalanche activity in the Logan Zone:

  • Tuesday, a skier intentionally triggered a sizable avalanche in the mountains above Paradise. The avalanche on a northeast facing slope at around 7900' in elevation failed on weak snow above the December 16 rain-crust. It included all the Christmas snow and was nearly 300' wide.
  • Riders and skiers in the Tony Grove and Garden City Canyon Areas triggered several small wind and storm slabs on Monday and Tuesday.
  • A party reported triggering a few sensitive wind slabs on exposed slopes at mid elevations in the Mt. Naomi Wilderness yesterday.

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

Drifting snow has created heightened wind slab avalanche conditions in exposed terrain. Slabs up to 2' deep formed on last week's weak snow. Hard wind slabs may allow you to get out on them before releasing and sometimes break above you.

  • Wind slabs are rounded and chalky and produce hollow, drum-like sounds.
  • Avoid drifted snow on the lee side of ridges and in and around terrain features like gullies, scoops, sub-ridges, and cliff-bands.
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

Some areas have buried weak surface snow made up of surface hoar and/or near surface facets, and triggered persistent slabs around a foot deep are possible.

  • Weak snow exists above the December 16 rain-crust, and avalanches earlier this week failed on this layer.
  • Although becoming unlikely with time and increasing snow depth, deep slab avalanches, failing on depth hoar near the ground are still possible on drifted upper elevation north facing slopes.
weather

The entrenched high pressure system will control the weather pattern and the inversion will remain in place through the weekend. A stronger and colder system will affect the Great Basin for much of next week. Atmospheric mixing will begin on New Years Day, and 2 to 4 inches of snow is possible Sunday night. Light snowfall should continue into Monday. A sustained period with arctic temperatures and unsettled weather is expected to last through next week.

general announcements

The early season is a great time to practice companion rescue techniques with your partners. Companion Rescue Practice Video

Discount lift tickets for Beaver Mountain, Snowbasin, Powder Mountain, and the Central Wasatch resorts are donated by the resorts to benefit the Utah Avalanche Center. Details and order information here.

Check out Avalanche Canada's "Rescue at Cherry Bowl" story HERE

Between now and Jan 15th: Donate to the Utah Avalanche Center by shopping at Whole Foods Market Utah! When you visit any Utah Whole Foods Market locations, bring your re-usable bags, Whole Foods will donate a dime per bag to the Utah Avalanche Center - if you say DONATE my bag credit.

We will update this advisory regularly on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday mornings by about 7:30.

Your information can save lives. If you see anything we should know please help us out by submitting snow and avalanche observations. You can call us at 801-524-5304, email by clicking HERE, or include @utavy in your Instagram. In the Logan Area you can reach me at 435-757-7578

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 exist.