Avalanche Advisory
Advisory: Ogden Area Mountains Issued by Paige Pagnucco for Friday - December 2, 2016 - 7:18am
bottom line

With a lingering deep, persistent slab avalanche problem in specific locations, the avalanche danger is MODERATE on upper elevation NW, N and NE slopes. Avalanche conditions are generally safe at lower and mid elevations where the danger is LOW.

Keep on eye out for wind drifting as there is lots of snow available for transport if wind speeds increase.
current conditions


Rime coated trees in the Ogden mountains.

It's currently 6 degrees at the 9500' Ogden Peak weather station with light winds from the ENE. Skies are clear. Snow from early this week has settled and become more supportable making traveling easier. Riding conditions remain great mostly above 8000' due to limited sun, limited wind, and cold temperatures.

You'll find pretty good riding conditions on lower angle terrain that is void of rocks and stumps. The steeper you get the easier it is to punch through to whatever is underneath. The snow pack is still very shallow at lower elevations.
recent activity

No avalanches have been reported in the Ogden area mountains. One notable avalanche occurred in Big Cottonwood Canyon Wednesday in East Bowl of Silver Fork. A skier triggered an avalanche 2 feet deep and 35 feet wide. It ran about 100 feet and carried the skier only about 20 feet. What’s notable about this slide is that the snow released on facets.
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 problem with deep slab avalanches is that they tend to persist and remain unstable for long periods. Right now the danger for these is not widespread and only exists in specific places: mostly high elevation slopes with a northerly aspect that either had snow from earlier in the season or have a smooth ground surface, like smooth rock or grassy slopes, where a thin layer of facets lies uninterrupted.

One observer found unstable results in stability tests on Tuesday on Ben Lomond Peak at 8000 feet on a NE aspect. The best solution is to enjoy the powder on other aspects and avoid this problem.
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

Keep an eye on the wind today. There is lots of fresh, light and easily transportable snow at the higher elevations. With an increase in wind speed there is the potential for wind drifting and the development of wind slabs.
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

Now is a great time (if you haven't already) to practice your companion rescue skills. Get out your transciever, probe and shovel and practice in the shallow snowpack. It's a good way to reignite that part of your skillset as well as work out any technical or mechanical issues with your equipment. Invite your partners to join in - riding with someone that has rescue equipment and knows how to use it well should be high on your pre-trip checklist.
weather

Temperatures in the mountains will be winter-like today with highs at 8500' reaching the mid-teens. Light northerly winds will shave off a few more degrees so be prepared for the cold. On the upside, we'll see sunny skies for most of the day. The weekend looks to be a bit warmer and somewhat unsettled as another disturbance works it's way into the area on Sunday into Monday.

Today - Mostly sunny, with a high near 17. Wind chill values as low as -2. East northeast wind around 7 mph.

Tonight - Partly cloudy, with a low around 10. Wind chill values as low as zero. North northeast wind 5 to 9 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Saturday - A 20 percent chance of snow after 11am. Partly sunny, with a high near 19. Light and variable wind becoming west 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.

Saturday Night - A 20 percent chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 16. West northwest wind 9 to 11 mph.

Sunday - A 20 percent chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 30. Southwest wind 8 to 17 mph.

Sunday Night - Snow. Low around 16. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible.

Monday - Snow likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 17. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.
general announcements

On Wednesday December 7th the UAC is hosting the 13th annual Pray for Snow Party and Fundraiser in Logan. Details here.

Remember your information can save lives. If you see anything we should know about, please help us out 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 request 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.

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

Ski Utah mobile snow updates

To those skinning uphill at resorts: it is critical to know the resort policy on uphill travel. You can see the uphill travel policy for each resort here.

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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.