Avalanche Advisory
Advisory: Provo Area Mountains Issued by Greg Gagne for Monday - March 5, 2018 - 7:19am
bottom line

The avalanche hazard is CONSIDERABLE in upper elevations for fresh wind drifts, and above 9000' for persistent slabs. There is a MODERATE hazard for sluffing in the loose storm snow on steeper aspects. Fortunately, plenty of safer, 5-star riding conditions can be found on lower-angled slopes as well as southerly aspects.

With what many are describing as the best conditions of the year, it is easy to let the brilliant riding cloud good judgement. Be sure to practice the usual safe protocol of exposing one person on a slope at a time and getting out of the runout zone at the bottom. Clearly communicate plans with your partner(s). If you do drop cornices or ski cut slopes, be absolutely sure no one is below you.
special announcement

The latest edition of the UAC podcast is live - "A Conversation with Tom Kimbrough. Hemingway of the Wasatch". Tom is a retired climbing ranger in Grand Teton National Park, and a longtime avalanche forecaster with the UAC. A role model and mentor to many of us. Sit back and enjoy listening to Drew having a conversation with Tom!

Spend some time improving your rescue skills or learning about avalanches in this upcoming Salt Lake City area class:
current conditions

Temperatures in the Provo mountains range throughout the teens, and winds are out of the west/northwest, gusting into the 20's and 30's mph. 10-16" of new snow has been reported in the Provo mountains since Saturday night.

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recent activity

Fresh wind drifts [Andrew Bentz photo below] and sluffing in the loose storm snow was reported on Sunday.
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

Winds are also creating widespread cornices along ridgelines. Give them a wide berth when traveling along ridges and avoid travel beneath them.
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

Avalanches breaking into old snow have been reported this past week. This includes layers of faceted snow at the mid-pack, as well as down near the ground. This terrain can be found in upper elevation terrain facing north through southeast. The snowpack in the Provo mountains is quite thin and weak, especially at the lower elevations. The photo below is on a north aspect at 8700' on Mount Timpanogas prior to this recent storm snow. Andrew Bentz reported similar conditions yesterday on Maple Mountain.
weather

We have a beautiful winter day in store with mountain temperatures rising into the teens under mostly cloudy skies. We may scrape out a trace of snow early this morning. Winds will be out of the west/northwest and gusty, especially along the upper elevation ridgelines. At the mid elevations, winds will average in the teens, with gusts in the 20's and 30's mph. At the upper elevations, winds will average in the 20's and 30's, with even stronger gusts.
general announcements

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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.