Avalanche Advisory
Advisory: Ogden Area Mountains Issued by Mark Staples for Friday - January 22, 2016 - 5:49am
bottom line

Today the avalanche danger on upper elevation wind loaded slopes is CONSIDERABLE where triggering a fresh wind slab is likely. With a variety of avalnche problems at other elevations the avalanche danger is MODERATE.
special announcement

Avalanche Fatality on Gobblers Knob - 21 January 2016

We are very sad to report an avalanche fatality on the south face of Gobbler’s Knob yesterday. A pair of backcountry skiers was skiing the run in sections, when the slope broke out widely above them. One skier was caught and carried hundreds of feet down, and fully buried (in spite of having deployed an air bag). Found with a beacon search, he was transported to the hospital and declared dead. Our thoughts are with their family and friends. A preliminary report is HERE.

Photo of the avalanche courtesy of KSL News.
current conditions

This morning with a temperature inversion in place, mountain temperatures are near freezing while lower elevations have temperatures in the low 20s and upper teens F. Winds shifted to the south early this morning and are blowing 10-15 mph gusting 25 mph. Many slopes have great riding conditions with only direct south aspects having a thin crust on them.
recent activity

Most avalanche activity in the Ogden area mountains seems to be on wind loaded slopes and involving fresh wind slabs. See below photo of a wind slab that released on Ben Lomand Peak outlined with the yellow line.
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

Most of the avalanche activity in the Ogden area appears to be wind slabs. This area did not receive as much new snow, and the most likely place to trigger a slides is on a upper elevation, wind loaded slope. These wind slabs may be resting on facets making them easier to trigger. Winds have mostly been blowing from the WNW but have shifted this morning to the S, and you may find fresh wind slabs on a variety of aspects.
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

Have there been fewer large persistent slab avalanches in the Ogden area because this area received less snow OR because there have been fewer people either triggering or observing these types of avalanches? I don't know. Either way, I wouldn't trust the snowpack too much. If you want to enter avalanche terrain today, it's critical to look for two things. As mentioned above, watch for fresh wind slabs. Also, dig a snowpit looking for and assessing weak faceted layers. These will be either at the ground (especially on slopes facing N, NE, and E that slid prior to Christmas) or they should be within the top foot or two of snow.
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

Air temperatures are near freezing this morning. Cloudy skies should limit rapid heating of the snowpack today from direct sunshine, but there will be some breaks in cloud cover. It's hard to say how much the snowpack will warm today. Sometimes cloud cover helps the snowpack warm by acting as a greenhouse. Since we don't know exactly what will happen, look for clues of potential wet avalanche activity. Usually you'll notice the snow surface becoming wet and small roller balls or point releases occurring.
weather

Today southerly winds will blow 10-20 mph and bring mostly cloudy skies. The sun should appear at times. It's hard to say exactly how much temperatures should warm, but they should climb into the mid to upper 30s F above 9000 feet. Clouds should keep the warm-up from occurring too fast. The next storm should arrive Saturday evening.
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.

To get help in an emergency (to launch a rescue) in the Wasatch, call 911.  Be prepared to give your GPS coordinates or the run name. Dispatchers have a copy of the Wasatch Backcountry Ski map.

Backcountry Emergencies. It outlines your step-by-step method in the event of a winter backcountry incident.

If you trigger an avalanche in the backcountry, but no one is hurt and you do not need assistance, please notify the nearest ski area dispatch to avoid a needless response by rescue teams. Thanks.

Salt Lake and Park City – Alta Central (801-742-2033), Canyons Resort/PCMR Dispatch (435)615-1911

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

Sundance Dispatch (801-223-4150)

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

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UDOT canyon closures:  LINK TO UDOT, or on Twitter, follow @UDOTavy, @CanyonAlerts or @AltaCentral

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

Powderbird Helicopter Skiing - Blog/itinerary for the day

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

Ski Utah mobile snow updates

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.

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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.