In partnership with: Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center, The Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center and Utah State Parks.
Good morning, this is Craig Gordon with the Forest Service
Utah Avalanche Center with an avalanche and mountain weather update for the
western Uinta Mountains. Today is Tuesday November 4, 2003 and it’s about 7:30
in the morning.
Well it looks like the snow gods are finally smiling
upon us as the mountains have picked up close to 3’ of new snow above 9,000’.
With more snow expected over the next few days the avalanche season has begun.
Remember that if there’s enough snow to slide and ride on, there’s enough snow
to avalanche.
We will begin issuing our regularly scheduled
advisories in the next few weeks, until that time here’s a few things to be
aware of. The areas of most concern will be steep, wind loaded slopes where a
slab has developed so you’ll want to keep an eye out for cracking of the
surface snow around your machine or skis. Slab formation will typically
increase with elevation and will be most prevalent near upper elevation
ridgelines. However, if the winds start to increase in intensity watch out for
slabs that would’ve developed at mid and lower elevations and around terrain
features such as chutes and gullies. There are lots of rocks and stumps hidden
under this façade of new snow and going for a ride in an avalanche would have a
nasty result. Trail riding or turns on a smooth grassy slope is probably the
best bet at this time.
Remember to check the batteries in your avalanche
beacon and carry a shovel and probe.
Observations from riders and skiers are a vital
component to this program so if you see or trigger an avalanche give us a call
at 801-231-2170 or 1-800-662-4140.
Also, if you’d like to schedule a free avalanche
awareness talk and/or field day give us a call at 801-524-5304.
Thanks
for calling.