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

monday January 17, 2005

Good morning, this is Craig Gordon with the Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center with your holiday avalanche and mountain weather advisory for the western Uinta Mountains. Today is Monday, January 17, 2005 and it’s 7:00 a.m.

Announcements:

We installed a locater training center at the Nobletts trailhead this weekend 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:

A ridge is beginning to build in the wake of last night’s weak, little system and skies are still mostly cloudy. 10,000’ temperatures are in the mid 20’s and at the trailheads near freezing. Winds are light and out of the northwest blowing less than 10 mph even along the highest ridges. A trace of new snow has fallen in the past 24 hours and the riding and turning conditions remain quite good especially on low angle wind-protected slopes.

Avalanche Conditions:

One person has been recovered in the Dutch Draw avalanche and our thoughts and condolences go out to the friends and family of the victim.

Closer to home, I’m glad to say I haven’t heard of any new avalanche activity or any close calls in the past few days, although a group in the Thousand Peaks area did report one loud, booming collapse yesterday. This still indicates to me the snowpack is trying to adjust to the two-week onslaught of snow and wind we recently experienced. With all the good, safe, low angle terrain out there to be had, I’d continue to play it safe and stick to low angle slopes with no steep slopes above you. Looking at all the recent carnage, which includes snapped off trees, trees that have been ripped out by the roots, and debris piles close to 30’ in depth you quickly realize that if you do trigger an avalanche it’ll be unsurvivable. Slopes that haven’t avalanched already remain particularly tricky because as the slab gains strength it’ll allow you to get out onto it before it avalanches. Keep in the back of your mind; this was not a typical Utah storm so we’re not going to see typical Utah avalanches. Avalanches have the possibility of running much farther than you might think and will over run what we consider safe spots. Remember; even if you’re playing on low angle terrain be aware of steep slopes above and adjacent to you. Previous tracks on a slope are not a good barometer of stability. If you just can’t stand to let the steep slopes go untracked, the safest option out there are slopes that you know have recently avalanched close to the ground.

Bottom Line:

The avalanche danger is “SCARY” MODERATE today, especially on slopes facing northwest through east approaching 35 degrees in steepness. ”Scary” Moderate means human triggered avalanches are possible and if you trigger an avalanche today it will be large, dangerous, and most likely unsurvivable.

Mountain Weather:

As a ridge of high pressure begins to build, skies will clear throughout the day and temperatures will be quite mild. Highs today at 10,000’ will be in the low 30’s and at 8,000’ near 38 degrees. Overnight lows will be in the mid 20’s.

Winds will be out of the northwest and light, blowing 5-15 mph along the ridges. By mid week it’ll feel like spring and there are no storms in sight.

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 Jan. 19, 2005.

Thanks for calling!