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 ADVISORY

Sunday DECEMber 12, 2004

Good morning, this is Craig Gordon with the Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center with your avalanche and mountain weather advisory for the western Uinta Mountains. Today is Sunday, December 12, 2004 and it’s 7:30 a.m.

Announcements:

We have installed a weather station in the Moffit Peak area. Click here to see temperatures and wind data.

Many thanks go out to the Utah Snowmobile Association and BRORA for their generous contributions.

Current Conditions:

Skies remained mostly clear overnight and temperatures are mild. Currently it’s in the mid to upper 20’s along the ridges and at the trailheads. Winds are out of the northwest averaging 15 mph with gusts near 30 mph along the upper ridges. No new snow has fallen in the past 24 hours. The riding and turning conditions are a mixed bag. Up high in the wind zone many slopes are severely wind damaged and resemble the moonscape. Down low the snow has been baked and is crusty. In between on sheltered shady slopes, cold light powder will be found.

Avalanche Conditions:

We’ve had several very active avalanche days and this is the second day in a row I have to start off with bad news. First off, yesterday a snowmobiler was killed in an avalanche near Trout Creek. Details are sketchy and still being sifted through, but what we do know is the avalanche was triggered by the party, the victim was wearing an avalanche beacon, and he was buried about 4’ deep. I’ll be investigating the avalanche today and will post my findings on Monday. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims’ family and friends. This is the second avalanche fatality in as many days.

Secondly, on Bountiful Peak a very close call occurred when a snowmobiler was taking photos of his friend high marking above him. His friend triggered a very large hard slab avalanche, which consequently buried the guy taking the photos. Luckily the photographer was wearing an avalanche beacon and other riders raced to the scene assisting in the rescue. Other than some minor injuries he seems to be fine.

So why are we seeing so many avalanches? Well, the mid week snow event added a tremendous amount of weight to the snowpack and snow totals are around 3’. In addition winds raged for most of the storm. All of this new snow slammed down onto very weak surface snow formed during the November dry spell. It doesn’t take a snow scientist to figure out this combination leads to big avalanches.

As I traveled throughout the Uintas yesterday I saw plenty of evidence that the range had gone through a large natural avalanche cycle. However many slopes didn’t slide and they still hang in the balance waiting for a trigger to come along. Remember, recent avalanches are the biggest clue to instability. If the same kinds of slopes we want to ride on are avalanching- same slope angle, aspect, and elevation- then it’s time to rethink where we’re headed. It amazed me yesterday to watch so many riders totally disregard nature’s biggest clue. Come on…it’s a freebie!

Is it scary out there? You bet it is, but there are plenty of places to go and ride safely. So today, stop and take a moment, take your helmet off, get off your machine, walk and look around. Be alert to whumphing sounds and shooting cracks in the snow.

It’s going to get trickier out there as the slab gains strength and allows you to get further out onto it before it avalanches. If you trigger an avalanche today, chances are it’s going to be big, scary, and dangerous. Watching your slope angles and paying attention to signs of instability are key components to staying alive. You’ll need to practice your safe travel techniques as well. Only put one person at a time on the slope, keep an eye on your partner, have an escape route planned, and get out of the way and into a safe location at the bottom of the slope.

Finally, carry an avalanche beacon, shovel, and probe and know how to use them. Remember, you are the rescue team.

Bottom Line:

The avalanche danger remains CONSIDERABLE today on all slopes steeper than about 35 degrees. Human triggered avalanches are probable and natural avalanches are possible.

On slopes less steep than about 30 degrees the avalanche danger is generally LOW. Remember; even if you’re playing on low angle terrain be aware of steep slopes above and adjacent to you.

Mountain Weather:

High pressure will flatten slightly today and tonight as a storm system moves well to the north of us. Today we should see mostly sunny skies in the morning with increasing high clouds by afternoon. Temperatures will be mild with highs at 8,000’ in the mid to upper 40’s and at 10,000’ near 40 degrees. Overnight lows will be in the mid 20’s. Winds will be out of the west and northwest at speeds of 15-25 mph along the ridges. Continued dry and warm for Monday and Tuesday, then a possible storm for Wednesday with much colder temperatures.

General Information:

We’re interested in what you’re seeing especially if you observe or trigger an avalanche. Call 1-800-662-4140, or 801-231-2170, or email to [email protected] or fax to 801-524-6301 and fill us in with all the details.

If you’d like to schedule a free snowmobile specific avalanche talk and or a field day, please call 801-231-2170.

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. I will update this advisory Monday morning with the Trout Creek accident details.

Thanks for calling!