Avalanche Advisory
Advisory: Logan Area Mountains Issued by Toby Weed for Sunday - March 18, 2018 - 7:13am
bottom line

Heightened avalanche conditions exist, and there is MODERATE danger in the backcountry. Human triggered cornice falls and wind slab avalanches 1 to 2 feet deep are possible on drifted upper and mid-elevation slopes. Dangerous deep or persistent slab avalanches are unlikely, but remain possible on isolated drifted slopes with poor snow structure.

  • Evaluate snow and terrain carefully. Make conservative decisions.
  • Avoid overhanging cornices and steep drifted slopes.




special announcement

Episode 7 of the UAC Podcast "Mastery and False Mastery - An Interview with 'Big' Don Sharaf" is live. With a snow career spanning over 30 years, Don has enough mileage in the mountains to have learned a thing or two, including the profound value of humility when staring into the face of the dragon. Listen in on our conversation about the idea of mastery and if such a thing can exist in the avalanche world. Check it out on ​the UAC blog, ITunes, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts.
current conditions

Several more inches of snow fell in the mountains yesterday, and gusty southwest winds calmed overnight. You'll find good powder riding in the backcountry, with the best in sheltered upper elevation terrain. Heightened avalanche conditions exist, with human triggered cornice fall and wind slab avalanches 1 to 2 feet deep possible at upper and mid elevations. More dangerous deep or persistent slab avalanches are unlikely yet still possible in isolated areas with shallow weak snow.

  • The Tony Grove Snotel at 8400' reports 4 inches of new snow, with 0.4" SWE in the last 24 hrs. It's 14°F, and there's 73 inches of total snow, with 86% of normal SWE.
  • UDOT Hwy 89 Logan Summit reports 5°F, with calm conditions.
  • It's 10°F at the 9700' CSI Logan Peak weather station, with fairly light south wind this morning.
recent activity

We noticed a few small wet loose surface sluffs on very steep south and west facing slopes in the Mt Naomi Wilderness, and riders triggered a few small loose dry sluffs in steep north facing terrain Friday. No avalanche activity was reported from yesterday, but visibility in the mountains was limited by the storm.
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

Yesterday' sustained and gusty southwest wind drifted the fresh snow in exposed terrain, and caused a heightened danger of wind slab avalanches and cornice falls. Expect continued drifting from northwest winds today. Human triggered wind slab avalanches are possible in drifted terrain at upper and mid elevations. Loose dry sluffs are possible in sheltered terrain. Stay well clear of large ridge-top cornices, and avoid travel on steep slopes with trees, cliffs, benches, or other terrain traps below.

  • Wind slabs consist of denser drifted snow, they may be rounded and chalky looking, and are often hollow sounding.
  • Avoid stiffer drifted snow in and around terrain features like sub-ridges, gullies, scoops, and cliff bands.
  • Stay well clear of ridge-top cornices, which often break further back than expected and can trigger avalanches on steep slopes below.
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

Heightened persistent or deep slab avalanche conditions exist in areas with shallow snow and poor snow structure. The weight of the new snow from the past several days might be enough to reactivate buried persistent weak layers in some places. Colder temperatures are helping, but some areas with shallow snow cover have very poor snow structure. I've found suspect conditions on steep forested slopes, rocky terrain, and outlying or rarely visited areas.
weather
  • Today: Scattered snow showers, mainly after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 21. Light north northwest wind becoming northwest 11 to 16 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 50%. Total daytime snow accumulation of around an inch possible.
  • Tonight: Scattered snow showers before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 15. West northwest wind 7 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.
  • Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 29. West northwest wind 5 to 11 mph.
general announcements

We have discount lift tickets for Alta, Snowbird, Brighton, Solitude, Snowbasin,and Beaver Mountain. Details and order information here. All proceeds from these go towards paying for avalanche forecasting and education!

The UAC Marketplace is still open. Our online marketplace still has deals on skis, packs, airbag packs, beacons, snowshoes, soft goods and much more.

The UAC has new support programs with Outdoor Research and Darn Tough. Support the UAC through your daily shopping. When you shop at Smith's, or online at Outdoor Research, REI, Backcountry.com, Darn Tough, Patagonia, NRS, Amazon, eBay a portion of your purchase will be donated to the FUAC. See our Donate Page for more details on how you can support the UAC when you shop.

Benefit the Utah Avalanche Center when you buy or sell on eBay - set the Utah Avalanche Center as a favorite non-profit in your eBay account here and click on eBay gives when you buy or sell. You can choose to have your seller fees donated to the UAC, which doesn't cost you a penny Check it out on ITunes, Stitcher, the UAC blog, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Now is a great time to practice companion rescue techniques with your backcountry partners. Here's our rescue practice video.

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Remember your information can save lives. If you see anything we should know about, please help us out by submitting snow and avalanche observations. You can also call us at 801-524-5304, email by clicking HERE, or include #utavy in your Instagram.

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.