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.

“keeping you on top”

AVALANCHE ADVISORY

Friday, December 29, 2006 7:30 am
Good morning, this is Brett Kobernik with the Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center with your backcountry avalanche and mountain weather advisory. Today is Friday, December 29, 2006 and it’s 7:30 in the morning.

Current Conditions:

Under mostly cloudy skies in the mountains, overnight ridgetop temperatures were in the mid to upper teens with northeast winds in the 5 to 15 mph range with gusts into the 50s at the most exposed locations. At the higher locations wind speeds appear to be slowing a bit this morning.

Snowpack and Avalanche Conditions:

There were no reports of any significant avalanche activity from the backcountry on Thursday. (Click for a couple of snowpits from the 28^th)

The main concern for today is going to be areas that have a stiff slab over our persistent facet and crust layering from the December 12^th rain/rime event. This layering has produced spotty avalanching in the Cottonwoods and along the Park City Ridgeline since the 20^th in the 9000 to 10,000 foot range. This is a difficult situation to pin down exact locations where this condition exists because the crust and facet layering varies greatly from place to place and the slab thickness and stiffness varies greatly as well. (PHOTO of a hard slab from a shear test) This rime crust and facet layering is much less pronounced in the Ogden mountains.

Bottom Line for the Salt Lake, Park City, Ogden and Provo area mountains:

There is a pockety MODERATE avalanche danger on slopes that face west, north and east above about 9000’ with a slope angle of 35 degrees or steeper and especially in areas where the wind has deposited more snow over the past few days. Watch mid elevation breakovers as well as the usual ridgeline wind loading. Most areas have a LOW danger but it’s a bit like walking through a scattered mine field where you might step on one when you least expect it.

Mountain Weather:

Ridgetop temperatures will be in the upper teens to low 20s with northeast winds in the 5 to 15 mph range increasing slightly through the day. The low pressure centered over New Mexico will push a little moisture into Utah from the east mostly in the form of clouds but a few flurries are possible. Clouds may dissipate somewhat in the afternoon.

The extended forecast calls for clear weather through the weekend then another weak splitting storm for Tuesday which won’t produce much more then clouds.

Announcements:

If they can get out, The Wasatch Powderbird Guides will fly today in Silver, Days, Cardiff, Mineral, Grizzly, White Pine, American Fork and the Cascade Ridge.

The Rescue Training Center at the Canyons Resort is up and running now at the top of the gondola.

Listen to the advisory. Try our new streaming audio or podcasts

Our new, state wide tollfree hotline is 1-888-999-4019.
(For early morning detailed avalanche activity report hit option 8)

For a list of avalanche classes, click HERE

For our classic text advisory click HERE.

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We appreciate any snowpack and avalanche observations you have, so please leave us a message at (801) 524-5304 or 1-800-662-4140, or email us at [email protected]. (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.

Evelyn Lees will update this advisory by 7:30 on Saturday morning, and thanks for calling.