Avalanche Advisory
Advisory: Provo Area Mountains Issued by Brett Kobernik for Monday - January 27, 2014 - 7:03am
bottom line

The avalanche danger is generally LOW, with Pockets of MODERATE danger on steep, upper elevation slopes, facing north through east. On these slopes, human triggered avalanches are possible. Continue to use caution and travel one at a time if you are getting into steep terrain.
special announcement

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current conditions

Overnight temperatures were in the low to mid 20s. Westerly winds have increased over the last couple of hours. It looks a bit windy along the ridges right now in the Provo area mountains.
recent activity

There was one small pocket that avalanched in American Fork on Sunday from a cornice drop. It was 2 feet deep, 20 feet wide and ran about 50 feet on a north facing slope at 9400'.
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

In general, you will be hard pressed to find an avalanche today unless you are in very steep radical terrain with a wind slab sitting on facets. It's often hard to identify these areas from just looking at them. You really need to be on them and then, what's the point of trying to identify if they are dangerous? You're too late at that juncture. 'Pillowy' looking 'snow whales' are the biggest clue. I wandered around the Provo Mountains a bit on Sunday and my partners and I found ourselves being quite cautious once we were into the upper bowls. We took the time to discuss the route numerous times as we continued to ascend. We would adjust the route accordingly. We were cautious to be aware where everyone was when someone was making a move. It didn't feel like a "LOW" danger type of situation at that point. I kind of feel that when it's a "LOW" danger, you can waltz around most anywhere without too much care.
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

Out of the radical terrain, the snowpack is generally stable, but even with a mostly low danger, human triggered slides are still possible in isolated areas. Use normal caution, with the following considerations:

  • Avoid both old and any newer hard wind slabs, mostly found in upper elevation terrain.
  • Each person in your party should carry an avalanche beacon, shovel and probe.
  • Travel one at a time in steep terrain, and watch your partners.
weather

We'll have partly cloudy skies with temperatures near 30 at 8000 feet and in the 20s along the ridges. Westerly winds are expected to increase a bit with moderate speeds along the mid elevations and stronger speeds along the ridgetops. Tuesday will have partly cloudy skies and somewhat windy conditions from the northwest. It does look like we are going to get some snow starting Wednesday with periods of snow until Friday. The most recent weather models look much better than yesterday. We will keep our fingers crossed.
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 or 800-662-4140, 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)

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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

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

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 are now 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.  Some allow uphill travel and have guidelines, some don't. Contact the Ski Patrol at each resort for details. IMPORTANT: Before skinning 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.