Avalanche Advisory
Advisory: Ogden Area Mountains Issued by Drew Hardesty for Tuesday - December 2, 2014 - 6:58am
bottom line

A MODERATE danger exist in the northwest to north to northeast facing terrain above about 9000'. We're trending toward a Low-Probability-High-Consequence regime where uncertainty remains high. Uncertainty in my book = conservative decision making.

Probably the best and safest terrain would be mid elevation shady terrain no steeper than 30 degrees or so (with nothing steeper above).




special announcement

On December 4, Powderwhore Productions will be bringing Some Thing Else to Park City. A fundraising raffle will be held to benefit the Utah Avalanche Center. Details here.

According to legend, the late alpinist and - for one season anyway - Utah Avalanche Center forecaster Alex Lowe pioneered the term "Dawn Patrol" for getting up and out at Oh-Dark-30 to ski a few lines in the backcountry before work. If you're heading out early these days, tune in to our Dawn Patrol hotline 888-999-4019 option 8. Generally loose and, uh, unscripted, we record it daily between 5 and 530am.
current conditions

Skies are clear, temps are in the upper 20s, winds are west to southwesterly, blowing 15-20 with occasional gusts to 30. The most exposed wind stations are humming at 30-40mph. Riding conditions are about what you'd expect a few days after a storm when wind, sun, and above freezing temps have had their way with the snow.

recent activity

We've heard of no avalanches in the backcountry since Saturday, though reports of cracking in the recent wind drifts and collapsing of the depth hoar in the basement keep filtering in from the SLC mountains.
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

The overlying slab is strengthening, but the weak grains at the base of the pack are not. While the last human triggered avalanche occurred on Saturday, snow tests continue to indicate that the snowpack is not to be trusted. Avalanche control work at the resorts continue to produce a few more avalanches in the suspect terrain - predominantly northwest to northeast above about 9000'. Patience tends to pay off in the long run.

For more info, click the i next to the Persistent Slab icon.
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

Yesterday's winds scattered the 3-5" from the 30th into a few pockets of wind slab across the open alpine terrain. You'll recognize them by their smooth and rounded appearance and may crack out or collapse, making a muffled whumph under your feet. Time and warmth have likely settled many of these overnight, but keep them on the radar if heading into the higher terrain today.

For more info, click the i next to the Wind Slab icon.

Wind drifting noted from yesterday - photo Mark White
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

  • Get your backcountry systems dialed (now where was that extra skin strap or belt for the sled?)
  • Check out some continuing education,
  • Read up on the latest article on electro-magnetic interference with your avalanche transceiver.
weather

We'll see increasing clouds ahead of tonight and tomorrow's subtropical wave that should bring another round of snow to the Wasatch. The upper level Low spinning off the CA coast will pull moisture into the state on a south to southwest storm track that should produce an optimistic 3-6" of heavy dense snow with an estimated rain/snow line of 7000-7500'. Today's winds will be west to southwest blowing 20mph; temps will be near freezing at 10,000'. The rest of the week looks partly to mostly cloudy with the longer term forecasts looking perhaps uninspired.

general announcements

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, email by clicking HERE, or include #utavy in your tweet or Instagram.

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 (801-223-4150)

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

DAWN PATROL Hotline updated daily by 5-530am - 888-999-4019 option 8.

Twitter Updates for your mobile phone - DETAILS

UDOT canyon closures:  LINK TO UDOT

Utah Avalanche Center mobile app - Get your advisory on your iPhone along with great navigation and rescue tools.

Wasatch Powderbird Guides Blog/Itinerary for the Day.  

Lost or Found something in the backcountry? - http://nolofo.com/

Ski Utah mobile snow updates

Discount lift tickets will soon be available at Backcountry.com - Thanks to Ski Utah and the Utah Resorts.  All proceeds go towards paying for Utah Avalanche Center avalanche and mountain weather advisories.

To those skinning uphill at resorts:  it is your responsibility to know the resort policy on uphill travel.  You can see the uphill travel policy for each resort here. IMPORTANT: Before skinning or hiking 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.

Benefit the Utah Avalanche Center when you shop from Backcountry.com or REI:  Click this link for Backcountry.com or this link to REI, shop, and they will donate a percent of your purchase price to the UAC.  Both offer free shipping (with some conditions) so this costs you nothing!

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.

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 exist.