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

 

AVALANCHE ADVISORY

Sunday, December 25, 2005  7:30am
Good morning, this is Brett Kobernik with the Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center with your backcountry avalanche and mountain weather advisory.  Today is Sunday, December 25, 2005, and it’s about 7:30 am.

Check out our new graphical advisory format.  You can update your bookmarks to this link:

http://www.avalanche.org/~uac/newadvisory/advisory.php

'Twas the day before Christmas, and all through the hills

 

Temperatures were warm, ridge top winds weren’t quite still.

 

They blew from the northwest at 12 miles per hour,

 

They weren’t strong enough to make your face sour.

 

Avalanches were scarce, there weren’t many out there,

 

But wind slabs remain, I still say beware.

 

Helicopter bombs triggered a deep slab with a bump,

 

I don’t think a skier could produce that same thump.

 

On southerly facing slopes, most have a crust,

 

For decent conditions, high altitude is a must.

 

There’s also a heinous crust below 9000 feet,

 

Even the best skiers are taking it in the seat.

 

You’ll have to watch out for a wind slab or two,

 

Perform a slope cut so they don’t get hold of you.

 

Right now folks can go out with just a little luck,

 

Others might say “I don’t give a……care”.

 

The wisest will dig and take a good look around,

 

To see if a slab over weak snow can be found.

 

In most areas the avalanche danger is LOW,

 

But it’s definitely higher up in that wind blown snow.

 

On Christmas the temperatures will be quite mild,  (Click here for more detailed Mtn Weather)

 

But not warm enough for wet slides to go wild.

 

A few clouds may make their presence be seen,

 

And winds should pick up you might see what I mean.

 

The high pressure will pass to let storms come on in,

 

Possibly giving us powder fiends a big grin.

 

No helicopter in the Tri Canyons, which gives me a hunch,

 

Folks in this area won’t have their panties in a bunch.

 

If you see weak snow or wind slabs while your out,

 

Or if you start an avalanche, please give us a shout.

 

And now I’m about finished with this silly little tradition,

I’m really quite sorry you all had to listen.

Regional Snow Profile (this profile can also be found daily off our home page under avalanche products)

Click here for Seasonal Weather History Charts.

Yesterday, Wasatch Powderbird Guides flew in Cardiff, Days, Silver, Grizzly and Cascade Ridge, and today they will fly in American Fork and Cascade with home runs in Grizzly and White Pine.  For more info, call 742-2800.

We appreciate any backcountry snow and avalanche conditions you observe.  Call (801) 524-5304 or 1-800-662-4140, email [email protected] or fax 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.

To have this advisory automatically e-mailed to you each day, click HERE.  (You must re-sign up this season even if you were on the list last season.)

UDOT also has a highway avalanche control work hotline for Little Cottonwood road, which is updated as needed. 801-975-4838.

The annual report for 2004-05 is now on the web. (Click HERE, 8mb)

Drew Hardesty will update this advisory by 7:30 Monday morning.  Thanks for calling.