Avalanche Advisory
Advisory: Salt Lake Area Mountains Issued by Brett Kobernik for Wednesday - February 5, 2014 - 7:05am
bottom line

The overall avalanche danger is MODERATE today on slopes of 35 degrees or steeper. Be mindful of loose snow avalanches within the newest snow. Continue to watch for recent wind drifts and test them when possible to check their sensitivity. Keep in mind that more dangerous persistent slab avalanches are possible especially in thinner snowpack areas.
current conditions

Avalanche conditions remain fairly safe and riding conditions excellent. It really cooled off overnight with lows in the single digits in most locations and below zero along the ridges. Moderate speed westerly winds from Tuesday have slowed a bit. They didn't transport a whole lot of snow or form many crusts. A couple of inches of snow has accumulated in the Cottonwoods over the last 24 hours.
recent activity

Sluffing of the newer snow was noted on the steeper slopes Tuesday. New and old wind slabs don't seem too reactive.
Avalanche Problem 1
type aspect/elevation characteristics
LIKELIHOOD
LIKELY
UNLIKELY
SIZE
LARGE
SMALL
TREND
INCREASING DANGER
SAME
DECREASING DANGER
over the next 24 hours
description

The most likely type of avalanche that you'll run into today will be dry loose snow avalanches. These alone are manageable for experienced backcountry travelers but don't disregard them. The cold temperatures and light winds have probably kept the new snow loose enough to sluff, although less so than on Tuesday. Be careful in thinner snowpack areas where a sluff could gather enough momentum and mass to gouge into old faceted weak snow.
Avalanche Problem 2
type aspect/elevation characteristics
LIKELIHOOD
LIKELY
UNLIKELY
SIZE
LARGE
SMALL
TREND
INCREASING DANGER
SAME
DECREASING DANGER
over the next 24 hours
description

The most recent wind slabs didn't seem very sensitive on Tuesday and will be less so today, but, they should still be considered on the lee sides of slopes. Continue to use ski cuts prior to diving in. 'Sidehill' small safe test slopes on sleds to look for cracking. Snowshoers can walk and jump on small steep test slopes to get a feel of any cracking of these scattered wind slabs.
Avalanche Problem 3
type aspect/elevation characteristics
LIKELIHOOD
LIKELY
UNLIKELY
SIZE
LARGE
SMALL
TREND
INCREASING DANGER
SAME
DECREASING DANGER
over the next 24 hours
description

Lastly, continue to think about older weak layers. These layers are dormant for the most part especially in the upper Little Cottonwood periphery where the snowpack is the deepest and most stable. Keep in mind that there is a lot of variability in depth and strength even in areas where the snowpack is generally deeper. You are more likely to trigger a persistent slab in the traditionally thinner snowpack areas such as the Millcreek/Park City Ridgeline area, Mineral/Broads or Provo regions.

weather

We'll have mostly cloudy skies today with high temperatures into the teens. Ridgetop winds should remain fairly light. The overall weather pattern looks unsettled into the weekend. We should see a few flurries later today, tonight and Thursday with perhaps better chances for accumulation late Thursday into the weekend. Temperatures warm a bit on Thursday. Winds remain mostly west and look to increase on Friday.
general announcements

Remember your information can save lives. If you see anything we should know about, please participate in the creation of our own community avalanche advisory by submitting snow and avalanche conditions. You can also call us at 801-524-5304 or 800-662-4140, email by clicking HERE, or include #utavy in your tweet or Instagram.

If you trigger an avalanche in the backcountry - especially if you are adjacent to a ski area – please call the following teams to alert them to the slide and whether anyone is missing or not. Rescue teams can be exposed to significant hazard when responding to avalanches, and do not want to do so when unneeded. Thanks.

Salt Lake and Park City – Alta Central (801-742-2033), Canyons Resort Dispatch (435-615-3322)

Snowbasin Resort Dispatch (801-620-1017), Powder Mountain Dispatch (801-745-3772 x 123).

Sundance Dispatch (801-223-4150)

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DAWN PATROL Hotline updated daily by 5-530am - 888-999-4019 option 8.

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UDOT canyon closures:  LINK TO UDOT

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Wasatch Powderbird Guides Blog/Itinerary for the Day.  

Lost or Found something in the backcountry? - http://nolofo.com/

Ski Utah mobile snow updates

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To those skinning uphill at resorts:  it is your responsibility to know the resort policy on uphill travel.  Some allow uphill travel and have guidelines, some don't. Contact the Ski Patrol at each resort for details. IMPORTANT: Before skinning at a resort under new snow conditions, check in with Ski Patrol.  Resorts can restrict or cut off access if incompatible with control and grooming operations.

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This information does not apply to developed ski areas or highways where avalanche control is normally done.  This advisory is from the U.S.D.A. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. This advisory describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always exist.