Wasatch Cache National Forest
In partnership with: Utah State Parks and Recreation, The Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center, Utah Department of Emergency Services and Homeland Security and Salt Lake County.

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Avalanche advisory

Sunday, April 10, 2005
Good morning, this is Drew Hardesty with the Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center with your backcountry avalanche and mountain weather advisory.  Today is Sunday, April 10, 2005, and its 7:30 in the morning. It’s our last early morning advisory for the season but we’ll be putting out intermittent updates every few days and as conditions warrant.

Current Conditions:
With the closed Low pulling away to the east, a stronger northerly flow set up over us, effectively capping off much orographic support for any precipitation. We picked up just another inch in the last 24 hours so the upper elevations in the tri-canyons have about 6” of settled snow over a supportable crust. Temperatures are in the teens and winds along the ridges are in the 20-30mph range with gusts near 40.

Avalanche Conditions:
Yesterday’s activity included a couple shallow soft slabs with control work in upper Little Cottonwood as well as a skier released wind pocket on the south side of Little Superior 8” deep and 40’ wide. Today’s problems will be three fold: first, the winds may have loaded a few more pockets in the steep upper elevation terrain, but the danger will be in the terrain and consequences rather than the size of the avalanche. Secondly, when the strong spring sun is able to poke through, the danger of wet activity will rise accordingly on the sun exposed slopes. And lastly, despite the cooler temperatures, I’m not quick to write off our problems with unsupportable, saturated snow at the mid and low elevations, and all it takes is to poke your ski pole or fist through the ephemeral crust to feel the saturated glop beneath. It’ll be more problematic early in the week with clear skies and soaring temperatures. Collapses are sure signs to head to a different aspect or lower angled terrain.

Bottom Line (Salt Lake and Park City, Ogden and Provo mountains):
The avalanche danger is LOW this morning but will rise to MODERATE when the sun pokes through on the steep sun-exposed slopes. Other minor sluffing and soft slabs should only be a problem if you’re knocked off your feet or machine or end up in a terrain trap. Danger Scale: http://www.avalanche.org/~uac/ed-scale.htm

Mountain Weather: (You can find the afternoon Weather Update here.)
Latent moisture will keep a few clouds around today but the overall trend has high pressure developing over Utah for the next few days. The stronger north-northeasterly winds should diminish in speed by midday and drop to 15mph along the ridgetops. 8000’ highs will be near 30 with 10,000’ temps in the upper teens.

Wasatch Powderbird guides didn’t fly yesterday if they get out today will be in American Fork.

The advisory on our web page contains a user survey. Please take a few minutes to complete it so we can better our forecasts for you. The web site is utahavalanchecenter.com, click on Wasatch Range.

UDOT COTTONWOOD CANYONS HOTLINE FOR ROAD CLOSURE AND AVALANCHE CONTROL INFORMATION: 975-4838.

If you are getting out, we appreciate your snowpack and avalanche observations. Please call and leave a message at 524-5304 or 1-800-662-4140, or e-mail us at [email protected]. Fax is 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.

Thanks for calling.