Wasatc h
Cache National Forest
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Good Morning. This is Ethan Greene with the
Current Conditions:
Yesterday was a beautiful day
in the mountains. Blue skies in the
morning gave way to clouds and light snow in the afternoon. Last night under mostly clear skies temperatures
dipped into the mid teens at 8,000’ and upper teens at 10,000’. The winds have generally been from the west
in the 10 to 15 mph range, and there is a trace of new snow.
The snow surface is a mix of
new snow and surface facets. There was enough sunshine yesterday morning to form crusts on most south and
east facing slopes. The snowpack
is generally supportable above about 8,000’.
Avalanche Conditions:
After an amazing streak of
human triggered avalanches, the backcountry seemed pretty quiet yesterday. There were a lot of people out enjoying the
new snow, and a few folks ventured into the steeper terrain without incident. Over the last week we had a few days with very
warm temperatures and now temperatures have become more winter-like, at least
at night. This combination seemed to be
just the ticket to put a lid on our three week avalanche cycle. However, just like last year the weakness
that produced a long string of human triggered avalanches remains buried in our
snowpack. And just like last year the
next loading event or sharp temperature change could kick our lingering avalanche
cycle back into high gear.
For today the chances of
triggering a deep slab avalanche have decreased but still remain. On steep northerly and east facing slopes
above about 8,500’ there are slabs 2 to 4 feet deep resting on very weak
faceted snow.
This scenario can lure you into complicity by allowing several people to
travel across a slope without incident before one of them triggers a large
avalanche. And of course the consequences
of triggering a deep slab avalanche can always be severe.
Bottom Line (SLC,
Today there is a MODERATE danger of
triggering a deep slab avalanche on slopes facing northwest, north, northeast
and east, above about 8,500’ that are steeper than 35 degrees. On south facing slopes and slopes less steep
than about 30 degrees, which are not connected to steeper slopes, the avalanche
danger is generally LOW.
Mountain Weather:
A ridge of high pressure is
building in behind the short-wave trough that brought snow to the Wasa
General Information:
Wasa
Monday night at
Someone did find a pair of
skis and poles across from Solitude on New Year’s Day. To claim them, call Loraine at 485-5141.
The Friends of the
To report backcountry snow
and avalanche conditions, especially if you observe or trigger an avalanche,
call (801) 524-5304 or 1-800-662-4140, or email to [email protected] or fax to
801-524-6301. The information in this
advisory is from the U.S. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its
content. This advisory describes general
avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.
I will update this advisory by
Thanks for calling!
________________________________________________________________________
National
Weather Service - Salt Lake City - Snow.
For an explanation of
avalanche danger ratings: