Avalanche Advisory
Advisory: Logan Area Mountains Issued by Paige Pagnucco for Monday - April 2, 2018 - 6:14am
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The avalanche danger is LOW with generally safe avalanche conditions. Avoid steep slopes with freshly wind-drifted snow. Be aware of changing weather conditions and adapt your travel plan accordingly.


I will update this advisory by 7:30 Wednesday morning, 4/4/18.




special announcement

The newest issue of the Powder Cloud, the newsletter of the Utah Avalanche Center is hot off the presses. You can always grab a cup of coffee and while away the time by looking at new and old issues of the Powder Cloud, other essays, and blogs. Look for them in the menu above or click here.

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

current conditions

Conditions run the gamut from softer snow at lower and mid elevations to wind buffed and firm surfaces up higher. Riding conditions are supportable though access is melting out at Tony Grove, Franklin Basin and Beaver Creek.

  • The Logan Peak weather station reports 32 F.
  • The UDOT weather station at Hwy 89 Logan Summit reports 39°F, with west northwest winds blowing 20-25 mph with gusts in the 30's.

My pit yesterday (observation) was almost completely isothermal - each layer was the same temperature. Although a great sign for overall stability, the moist, weak facets near the ground are still a concern. In the case of either many warm nights in a row or heavy rain, this old, weak layer about 45 cm off the ground just might re-activate.

recent activity

An observer noted significant wet avalanche activity in the Pine Canyon area of the Wellsvilles yesterday. He noted several natural slides and was able as well to trigger several himself. Some of these ran hundreds of vertical feet and piled up quite deeply.

I observed some small, loose wet avalanches on an east facing 8900' slope yesterday in the Steam Mill Peak area.

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

What a difference a day makes - yesterday's sunshine and warmth gives way today to cold and windy winter-like conditions. Mountain temperatures will plummet into the teens F by afternoon (but it will feel closer to 0 F with the added wind chill) locking up the weekends warm snowpack. A few things to keep in mind if you're headed into the backcountry:

1. Strong westerly winds may create small wind slabs in exposed upper elevation lee terrain. Avoid steep slopes with freshly wind-drifted snow.
2. Firm conditions on steep slopes offer slide-for-life conditions - avoid high consequence terrain to minimize your exposure.
3. Remember that risk is inherent in mountain travel:

  • Always carry avalanche rescue equipment
  • Practice safe travel protocols by only exposing one person at a time
  • Be mindful of changing conditions throughout the day and adjust your travel plan accordingly
  • Stay well back from the edge of cornices as they can break back further than you expect
weather

Spring is out - winter is in! We'll have mostly cloudy skies, strong westerly winds, and falling temperatures in the mountains today as a cold, quick hitting storm passes through dropping just a few inches of snow. Tomorrow looks to be the nicest day of the week with sunny skies and unseasonably cool temps. An unsettled pattern moves in for the rest of the week.

Monday: Snow showers. Temperature rising to near 33 by 9am, then falling to around 19 during the remainder of the day. Wind chill values as low as -1. Windy, with a west wind 21 to 26 mph increasing to 29 to 34 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 48 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 9. Wind chill values as low as -8. Windy, with a west northwest wind 26 to 36 mph decreasing to 15 to 25 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 55 mph.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 28. Wind chill values as low as -2. West wind 8 to 14 mph.
Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 22. West southwest wind 14 to 18 mph.
Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of snow showers after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 39. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Check out this cool satellite imagery tool from Colorado State (subtract 6 hours to get local time).

general announcements

We have lift tickets for Snowbasin and Powder Mountain remaining. The tickets are discounted an additional 20%. Details and order information here. All proceeds from these go towards paying for avalanche forecasting and education!

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.

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.

EMAIL ADVISORY: If you would like to get the daily advisory by email you will need to subscribe here.

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.