Avalanche Advisory
Advisory: Ogden Area Mountains Issued by Drew Hardesty for Wednesday - March 1, 2017 - 7:11am
bottom line

The avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE for wind drifts at the mid and upper elevations. Human triggered avalanches are probable and most pronounced on steep north to east to south facing slopes...though terrain channeling of the winds will make many aspects suspect, particularly off the exposed ridgelines. Careful snowpack evaluation, cautious route-finding and conservative decision-making will be essential today.




special announcement

New guest blog by Tom Diegel - The Little Things (that might keep you alive) - Part I
current conditions

Just putting the finishing touches on the current storm system...and skies are trending partly cloudy. Mountain temperatures are in the single digits and low teens. Winds, however, play the spoiler. Overnight west-northwest winds blew 25-30mph with gusts to 45. The most exposed anemometers averaged 35-50mph with gusts to 70. They've lost some steam the last couple of hours, but the damage is irreconcilably done.

Overnight snowfall amounts are just an inch of new, but the storm totals since late Sunday/early Monday are 20-28".
recent activity

Reported avalanche activity yesterday was minor in scope, with loose snow sluffing and isolated wind slabs in very exposed terrain. A few cornices along the exposed ridgelines became unhinged and triggered either shallow drifts or minor dry sluffs.

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

Drifting should be widespread and not limited to the upper elevations. Wind drifts are often smooth and rounded, stiff and chalky and you'll instantly notice that it's not the world-class blower powder anymore if you transition to wind drifted terrain.

Even the mid-elevation anemometers couldn't hide from the wind. Drifts may exceed two feet in heavily drifted terrain, with drifts likely well off the ridgelines and cross-loaded beyond sub-ridges and rocky outcrops. They'll need a couple days to stabilize. Consider shooting cracks and audible collapsing of wind pillows to be sure signs of instability.

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

A couple of notes for today -

  • If snowpack is the question, terrain is the answer. Terrain is the one thing you can control. One can avoid uncertainty of the snowpack by choosing conservative terrain.
  • Safe travel rituals save lives. Make a plan, communicate, one-at-a-time, get out of the way at the bottom. Practice shallow and deep burials with your avalanche rescue gear. Remember the trust you put in your backcountry partners.
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

Cornices are enormous. They may break off on approach and break back well beyond the apex of the ridgeline. Longtime observer Brian Smith in Ogden said it best - "it is difficult to tell where the earth ends and the snow begins." Avoid being on or beneath these gigantic whales of snow.

weather

Skies will continue to trend partly cloudy in the wake of the storm. 8500' temps will reach to the low 20s. West to northwest winds will blow 15-20mph with gusts to 30. Skies will start to clear overnight as weak high pressure builds into the area over the next few days. The next storm system arrives Sunday. Details to follow.

general announcements

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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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, 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 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 occur.