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
“keeping
you on top”
AVALANCHE ADVISORY
Saturday,
January 20, 2007 7:30 am
Good morning, this is Evelyn Lees with
the
Our partners, the Friends of the UAC, are hosting numerous events during
the 4th Annual Backcountry Awareness Week, including a photo show by Scott
Markowitz at the Rose Wagner Theater on Jan 24th, a slide show and
book signing by Jill Fredston at REI on Jan 26th, a star studded
snowmobile ride and dinner on Jan. 27th, a dinner February 2 at The
Canyons with Olympic Gold Medal Winner Jim Shea, and avalanche classes at the
Canyons on February 3rd and 4th. Details are below, or click here for more
information.
Current Conditions:
A small disturbance is
headed our way, and temperatures are warmer this morning. Most stations are in the upper teens and low
twenties. The winds have shifted to the
northwest, and are blowing in the 10 to 15 mph range. It’s time to forget any New Years resolutions
about “low fat”. Instead,
“super size”, with wide skis, long boards and larger snow shoes. This will help keep you on top of the
greatest facets on earth…which are becoming increasingly punchy in shallow
snowpack areas, especially at the mid elevations. However, most areas are still supportable due
to the interspersed crust layers (photo)
(Profile)
and the turns are good in the sugary snow and surface
hoar if you can find untracked slopes.
And if nothing else, at least you’ll find clean air to exercise in.
Snowpack and Avalanche Conditions:
The only avalanches
reported yesterday were the now common sluffs on steep slopes. If you turn your back and get surprised, a few
of these sluffs are large enough that they could knock you off balance, or pile
up snow deeply in a confined gully.
Also, there are a few shallow wind slabs out there that could still be
triggered by a person. While it’s been a
couple of days since someone last triggered one (PHOTOS),
if you’re in steep, radical terrain getting knocked off your feet could be
dangerous. So be observant and think
consequences. As for the bottom line,
looks like we’re trying for a record as to see how long we can keep the exact
same one running with no changes.
Bottom Line for the
The snowpack is mostly
stable and the avalanche danger generally LOW. Remember, Low
Mountain Weather:
Looks like there will
finally be a small shake up in the weather department – while we can’t actually
fire the high pressure, it will be temporarily replaced with a small Pacific
cold front. Clouds will gradually
increase today, with snow showers possible by evening. The northwesterly winds will also increase
throughout the day, into the 15 to 25 mph range, with gusts in the 30’s. A few inches of snow are possible tonight,
with winds shifting to the northeast.
Clouds will decrease on Sunday, with temperatures cooling back into the
single digits at 10,000’. High pressure
will take control once again through at least mid week.
Announcements:
Yesterday, the Wasatch Powderbird Guides flew in Mineral,
On January 24th at
7:30pm, our partners, the Friends of UAC will be accepting donations at a photo
show by mountain sports photographer Scott Markewitz.
Shot both internationally and in
On Friday, January 26th, the well-known
On Saturday Jan. 27th, come join us for a star
studded fundraising ride. Click
here for more details or call 801-963-3819.
Then there will be a Fundraising Dinner on Friday, February 2,
2007. The dinner will be at The Canyons and Olympic Gold Medal Winner Jim Shea
will be the keynote speaker. For tickets and information visit www.UtahAvalancheCenter.com Also, the Canyons will be
offering avalanche classes on Saturday and Sunday, February 3rd and
4th. For more information and
to register, call 435-615-3325.
Listen to the
advisory. Try our new streaming audio or
podcasts
UDOT highway avalanche
control work information can be found HERE or by calling (801) 975-4838.
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.
To sign up for automated e-mails of our graphical advisory click HERE
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.
Drew Hardesty will update this advisory by 7:30 on Sunday morning, and
thanks for calling.