Avalanche Advisory
Advisory: Ogden Area Mountains Issued by Brett Kobernik for Monday - January 13, 2014 - 7:23am
bottom line

Very dangerous avalanche conditions continue through today. There is a CONSIDERABLE overall avalanche danger. Large human triggered avalanches are likely. Pay attention to what is uphill of you as you may trigger an avalanche from below. It is wise to avoid all steep wind loaded slopes again today.
avalanche warning

THIS AVALANCHE WARNING IS FOR THE MOUNTAINS OF NORTHERN AND CENTRAL UTAH, TO INCLUDE THE WESTERN UINTA MOUNTAINS. VERY DANGEROUS AVALANCHE CONDITIONS EXIST THROUGH TODAY...AVOID BEING ON OR BENEATH STEEP MOUNTAIN SLOPES...AS AVALANCHES MAY BE TRIGGERED LOW ON THE SLOPE AS WELL.
current conditions

It is currently snowing and the wind continues. The wind is generally from the west and perhaps just slightly slower than on Sunday. Temperatures are in the upper teens. Over the last 12 hours, another couple of inches of snow has accumulated in the Ogden area mountains with 24 hour totals 2 to 4 inches. Densities are fairly low. Out of the wind, riding conditions are excellent.
recent activity

One skier triggered avalanche occurred near North Ogden Pass and was 3 feet deep, 50 feet wide and ran a couple hundred feet. Keep in mind that poor visibility didn't allow us to look into areas that likely had natural avalanche activity. The blowing and drifting snow also kept people off the ridges or out of the backcountry all together. So, we don't have much information from Sunday aside from the fact that it snowed and the wind drifted the new snow. We also know that there is an abundance of buried weak faceted snow where many of these fresh slabs are forming.
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

An avalanche breaking into old weak sugary faceted snow is by far the biggest danger out there today. This is an 'unmanageable' situation. Ski cuts are ineffective. Don't rely on stability tests. All you need to know is we've just recently added a bunch of weight to our buried weak layers and this is when they are most likely to collapse and cause an avalanche. Getting onto steep slopes that have received a bunch of new snow and wind loading is a roll of the dice.
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 fresh wind slabs on their own will most likely be more stubborn today than Sunday. They will be larger though. Obviously, they are most pronounced on east facing slopes since the westerly winds have been loading snow from the west to east. However, keep in mind that wind direction varies greatly with terrain and many features will have crossloaded areas on all aspects.
Avalanche Problem 3
type aspect/elevation characteristics
LIKELIHOOD
LIKELY
UNLIKELY
SIZE
LARGE
SMALL
TREND
INCREASING DANGER
SAME
DECREASING DANGER
over the next 24 hours
description

Same deal for the fresh cornices as the wind slabs. They will probably be more stubborn but larger than on Sunday. Do not approach these cornices as they often break back farther than we anticipate.
weather

We should see snow tapering off later this morning. A few more inches of accumulation is possible. The riming should be short lived. Annoying westerly winds will continue with strong gusts along the upper ridges. Temperatures should get into the mid 20s. We'll most likely see cloud cover through today. Winds veer north and continue on Tuesday but slow slightly. The ridge of high pressure again sets up over the coast giving mild weather as the week continues.
general announcements

This information does not apply to developed ski areas or highways where avalanche control is normally done.  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.

If you trigger an avalanche in the backcountry - especially if you are adjacent to a ski area – please call the following teams to alert them to the slide and whether anyone is missing or not. Rescue teams can be exposed to significant hazard when responding to avalanches, and do not want to do so when unneeded. Thanks.

Salt Lake and Park City – Alta Central (801-742-2033), Canyons Resort Dispatch (435-615-3322)

Snowbasin Resort Dispatch (801-620-1017), Powder Mountain Dispatch (801-745-3772 x 123).

Sundance Dispatch (801-231-4150)

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UDOT canyon closures:  LINK TO UDOT

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To those skinning uphill at resorts:  it is your responsibility to know the resort policy on uphill travel.  Some allow uphill travel and have guidelines, some don't. Contact the Ski Patrol at each resort for details. IMPORTANT: Before skinning at a resort under new snow conditions, check in with Ski Patrol.  Resorts can restrict or cut off access if incompatible with control and grooming operations.

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Remember your information can save lives. If you see anything we should know about, please participate in the creation of our own community avalanche advisory by submitting snow and avalanche conditions. You can also call us at 801-524-5304 or 800-662-4140, email by clicking HERE, or include #utavy in your tweet or Instagram.

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http://www.skiutah.com/get-mobile-snow-updates/