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

saturday february 12, 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 Saturday, February 12, 2005 and it’s 7:00 a.m.

Announcements:

A beacon-training center has been installed at the Nobletts trailhead 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, along with State Parks and The Utah Snowmobile Association
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.
 
The Moffit Peak weather station is back in operation. This site was made possible through generous donations
from BRORA, The Utah Snowmobile Association, and the National Weather Service. You can view data by clicking here.

For recent avalanche photos click here.

Current Conditions:

A moist Pacific storm system will cross Utah today and we’re already seeing plenty of clouds, light snow, and fairly mild temperatures. Currently it’s in the low 20’s at 11,000’ and 30 degrees at 8,000’. Winds have been quite active overnight, with hourly averages in the 20’s and gusts in the low 50’s at the most exposed locations. Above 8,000’ in elevation, 3” of heavy density snow has fallen in the past 24 hours. Upper elevation wind exposed terrain will be a bit funky today, but the riding and turning conditions are quite good, especially on wind protected, low angle shady slopes.

Avalanche Conditions:

The avalanche stability picture is becoming more complicated as southerly winds have been blowing for nearly 24 hours. There’s plenty of snow available for transport and yesterday while I was out, leeward slopes at upper elevations were getting wind loaded at an alarming rate. Within a matter of about an hour, slabs were doubling in depth and they were becoming more sensitive to the weight of a person. As a matter of fact, one unintentionally triggered avalanche occurred yesterday as a very experienced backcountry skier was crossing a steep wind loaded slope on the north side of Bald Mountain. This skier triggered a slab avalanche about 100’ above him and it was close to 18” deep and 75’ wide. He went for a short ride and other than having to choke down a slice of humble pie, seems to be ok. The weak layer involved is the near surface facets formed during the January dry spell. In addition, surface hoar can be found on top of the facets. What this adds up to is avalanches could be triggered from a distance today.

This morning I’d suspect the slabs to be more widespread and they could be close to 3’ deep at the upper elevations. The most obvious places to find these new wind-drifts will be on the leeward side of upper elevation ridgelines. However, I’d bet plenty of cross loading occurred overnight, so be suspicious of terrain features such as chutes, gullies, and mid slope breakovers.

Bottom Line:

In upper elevation terrain, above timberline, there is a CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger on slopes steeper than about 35 degrees, with recent deposits of wind-drifted snow. Human triggered avalanches are probable and natural avalanches possible.

At mid elevations the avalanche danger is MODERATE on slopes steeper than about 35 degrees with recent deposits of wind-drifted snow. Human triggered avalanches are possible.

In wind-sheltered terrain on slopes less steep than about 35 degrees the avalanche danger is generally LOW.

Mountain Weather:

A snow advisory is in effect for the region and we should see an additional 3”-6” of snow today with another 1”-3” tonight. Temperatures will be cooling and highs at 10,000’ will be in the low 20’s and at 8,000’ in the low 30’s. Overnight lows will be near 20 degrees. Winds will be shifting to the west and eventually northwest later in the day, blowing 15-25 mph along the ridges. Sunday we should see a break in the action and it looks like Monday through Wednesday we can expect mostly cloudy skies with a chance of snow each day.

General Information:

We’re interested in what you’re seeing especially if you see 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 Sunday Feb. 13, 2005.

Thanks for calling!