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 19, 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 19, 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.

For recent avalanche photos click here.

Current Conditions:

High pressure will remain over the region for one more day giving us spring like conditions before the bottom drops out Tuesday producing some of the coldest temperatures all year. Currently it’s in the mid 20’s at 11,000’ and in the low 20’s at 8,000’. Winds are out of the north at speeds of 10-15 mph along the ridges. The riding and sliding conditions are getting pretty grim. Among the variety of breakable crusts, there are patches of soft settled snow on the shady slopes, and during the heat of the day the south facing slopes are warming up and producing a corn like surface. Other than being out of the valley fog you’re not missing much, especially if you haven’t started your Christmas shopping yet.

Avalanche Conditions:

Things seem to be quieting down along the eastern front, but I’m not quite ready to hang it out and start climbing every steep slope I see. What still concern’s me is reports of collapses and loud whumphing sounds keep coming in, as the snowpack is slowly adjusting to the big storm 10 days ago. The good news is I haven’t heard of or seen any big recent avalanche activity in the past few days. The bad news is the weak facets formed during the November dry spell are notoriously tricky and take a long time to heal. Sure there are plenty of places to go and ride today and not trigger an avalanche, but if you’re travels take you to steep, rocky terrain, where the snowpack is thin and weak, you’d better have your avalanche radar fully dialed in. It’s in this type of terrain where I think you could still trigger a sizeable avalanche. As the slab gets stronger it’ll allow you to get well out onto the slope before it avalanches. That’s what makes hard slabs so unpredictable. You feel safe because the snow feels strong and supportable.

This would be a good weekend to continue practicing your safe travel techniques. 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.

Carry an avalanche beacon, shovel, and probe and know how to use them. Remember- you are the rescue party.

Bottom Line:

The avalanche danger is MODERATE today on slopes steeper than about 35 degrees. Human triggered avalanches are possible.

On slopes less steep than about 35 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:

Today we can expect mostly sunny skies with highs at 8,000’ in the mid 40’s and at 10,000’ near freezing. Overnight lows will be in the low 20’s. Winds will be switching to the west during the day and increase to 15-20 mph along the highest ridges by days end. Tonight high clouds will start to move in as a weak system brushes by the region and we might see a dusting of snow out of it on Monday along with slightly cooler temperatures. Arctic air moves into the area on Tuesday and high temperatures will be near 10 degrees. Brrrr.

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 by 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday Dec. 22, 2004.

Thanks for calling!