Wasatch Cache and Uinta National Forests

In partnership with: Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center, The Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center and Utah State Parks.

Avalanche INFORMATION UPDATE

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 Saturday November 8, 2003 and it’s about 7:30 in the morning.

Current conditions:

The snowpack has settled out quite a bit this week, averaging close to two feet above 9,000’ in elevation. The cold weather is helping to preserve the snow quality and recrystalized powder can be found on upper elevation, shady slopes. This loose, cohensionless snow is keeping the turning and riding conditions quite good and at the moment the only avalanche concern is sluffing of this weak surface snow. Though not large enough to bury a person, they could knock you off your feet or machine. While there is no big storms forecast for the next few days, be alert to changing weather conditions, especially strong winds, as this will increase the avalanche danger. With all the rocks and stumps out there hidden under this veil of thin snow, going for a ride in an avalanche would have a nasty result. Speaking of natural obstacles, local shops are keeping busy with damaged machines so trail riding or turns on a smooth grassy slope is probably the best bet at this time.

General Information:

We’ll begin issuing our regularly scheduled advisories as soon as there’s enough snow to get the season rolling.

We can always use snow information and 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.