Avalanche Advisory
Advisory: Ogden Area Mountains Issued by Drew Hardesty for Monday - December 18, 2017 - 7:12am
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The avalanche danger is LOW – but small avalanches can be triggered in isolated areas or extreme terrain. The most likely avalanche to trigger would be a small, old shallow wind drift at the highest elevations.

The snow pack is very shallow - riding is really only possible at the upper elevations in the Ogden area mountains, and even there, staying on lower angle, grassy slopes or sticking to snow packed roads will reduce the number of rocks and stumps you hit.
special announcement

Based on conditions, we will be issuing intermittent advisories. The next update will be Wednesday the 20th of December.

Check out the blog Avalanche Fatalities During Uphill Travel. Backcountry travelers need a clear focus on evaluating terrain during their ascent, as well as their descents.
current conditions

Skies are currently overcast with temperatures in the mid-20s. Winds are west to northwest at 15-20mph along the highest ridgelines.

After Saturday night's 2-3", we're still looking at total snow on the ground on shady, upper elevation slopes is around 12-18" with much of it weak sugary facets over a variey of crusts. Sunny slopes are a mix of crusty snow and bare ground, and there’s only patchy snow at the mid and lower elevations.

View the latest Ogden observations here.

recent activity

None.
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

Though the avalanche danger is LOW, small avalanches can still be triggered in isolated places. Perhaps a small, shallow old wind drift at the highest elevation.

The snowpack on the shady slopes consists of weak crusts and sugary faceted snow. This is a concern for the future when we finally get snow. For now, it’s amazing just to dig your hand into the snow and see how loose and weak it is.

weather

High pressure will again build into the region ahead of a a very cold system arriving Wednesday afternoon. Until then, mountain temperatures will be in the upper 20s to low 30s; winds will be west to northwesterly at 15-20mph. West to southwest winds will pick up later Tuesday into early Wednesday ahead of the cold front with mountain temperatures plunging to the single digits by early Thursday. An optimistic 6-10" may look like something, but it'll be very low density. Another colder system potentially on track for later Friday. The winter solstice arrives 930am Thursday - maybe this'll mark a transition to true winter.

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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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.