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 January 16, 2005

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, January 16, 2005 and it’s 7:00 a.m.

Announcements:

We installed a locater training center at the Nobletts trailhead yesterday and “Beacon Basin” up and running! Many thanks go out to Backcountry Access for supplying all the equipment, Doug Page and all the volunteers who provided manpower, Jim Conway who was the brains behind the operation, and the Kamas and Heber Ranger Districts for their in-kind support. Swing by and check it out before going on the snow. It’s free and within walking distance from the parking lot.

We’re experiencing some technical difficulties with the Moffit Peak weather station. Hopefully I’ll have those worked out once the slide cycle ends. Thanks for your patience.

For recent avalanche photos click here.

Current Conditions:

Ahead of a weak disturbance sliding into the region tonight, clouds are already spreading into the area and temperatures are pretty mild. At 10,000’ it’s in the mid 20’s and at 8,000’ near freezing. Winds are out of the west and southwest blowing 10-20 mph along the ridges. No new snow has fallen in the past 24 hours, but the riding and turning conditions remain quite good especially on low angle protected slopes.

Avalanche Conditions:

No word yet on the undetermined number of people still missing in the Dutch Draw avalanche. The Salt Lake office is updating the 364-1591 phone line as information becomes available. Closer to home, yesterday a lot of folks were sticking to low angle slopes and getting face shots and I’m happy to say I didn’t here of any close calls. As the snowpack starts to slowly gain strength I know we’re all chomping at the bit and wondering when it’ll be safe to go jumping into our favorite steep powder shot. Well, all the avalanche professionals I know are still nervous about getting on anything steep and rightfully so. Just take a look around at the carnage left from the recent natural avalanche cycle. You wouldn’t stand a chance if you got caught in one of these monsters and you’d feel like a toothpick in a hurricane.

Remember, we put an unusually large amount of weight onto some notoriously tricky weak layers and it’s going to take some time to adjust. This was not a typical Utah storm so we’re not going to see typical Utah avalanches. As a matter of fact, as the slab gains strength you’ll be able to get well out onto the slope before it fails. Previous tracks on a slope are not a good barometer of stability and if you do trigger an avalanche today it will be large, dangerous, and quite possibly unsurvivable. If you’re getting out today you should still stay off of and out from under any steep slope. Avalanches have the possibility of running much farther than you might think and will over run what we consider safe spots. People without excellent route finding, avalanche, and rescue skills should continue avoid backcountry travel. If you have these skills, there are plenty of low angle slopes to be had and the snow is fast and fun. Remember; even if you’re playing on low angle terrain be aware of steep slopes above and adjacent to you.

Bottom Line:

The avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE today on and below all steep slopes, especially those facing north through southeast and slopes that have been drifted with wind blown snow in the past few days. Human triggered avalanches are probable and natural avalanches are possible. If you trigger an avalanche today it will be large, dangerous, and most likely unsurvivable.

Mountain Weather:

Today we can expect mostly cloudy skies, mild temperatures, and a chance of light snow. Todays highs at 10,000’ will be in the upper 20’s and at 8,000’ in the mid 30’s. Overnight lows will be near 20 degrees. Winds will be shifting to the west and northwest later in the day and should be in the 15-25 mph range along the ridges. There’s very little in the way of moisture so snow totals will be pretty meager and we might see 1 or 2 inches by Monday morning. An upper ridge begins to build later Monday and strong high pressure and warming temperatures are on tap for the remainder of the week.

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 Monday Jan. 17, 2005.

Thanks for calling!