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 march 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, March 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:

One more spring-like day is on tap for the region and under mostly sunny skies current temperatures are in the mid 20’s. Skies remained clear overnight, so there should be a decent refreeze of the snowpack. In the past few hours, northwesterly winds have been steadily rising and are now blowing 30 mph with gusts in the low 40’s. Riding and turning conditions remain surprisingly good. Solid melt-freeze crusts can be found on the south facing slopes and soft recrystalized powder is offered up on sheltered shady slopes. However it’s a tough go getting there, so bring a kidney belt along because all the old tracks are set up like curb and gutter.

Avalanche Conditions:

It’s another great day to get out and enjoy the mountains and yesterday I was pleasantly surprised at how good both the riding and skiing conditions are holding up. On sunny slopes, there’s plenty of corn to be found and timing is everything during the spring months. It’s best to get on the snow when it’s hard and supportable and when the slope you’re on becomes wet and gloppy, it’s time to get onto a cooler aspect. To avoid getting caught in a cement mixer like avalanche, you’ll want to get off of and out from under steep sun exposed slopes as the day heats up. On the other side of the compass, strong winds have been forming shallow soft slabs overnight. While not widespread and probably limited to the leeward side of upper elevation ridges, these fresh wind drifts could be sensitive to the weight of a rider or skier. If you’re getting into steep, radical terrain today remember that even a small slide can have season ending consequences.

Bottom Line:

There is a MODERATE avalanche danger on upper elevation slopes steeper than about 35 degrees with recent deposits of wind drifted snow. Human triggered avalanches are possible. Also the avalanche danger on sun exposed slopes steeper than about 35 degrees will rise to MODERATE with daytime heating.

The avalanche danger is generally LOW on most other slopes.

Mountain Weather:

Today should be the last day of warm temperatures for at least a week as a series of cold, albeit moisture starved systems work into the region. We can expect mostly sunny skies for a good portion of the day before a cold front dives into the region later tonight bringing a chance of light snow. High temperatures today at 8,000’ will climb into the low 50’s and at 10,000’ highs will be in the upper 30’s. Overnight lows will crash into the mid teens. Winds are going to be strong this morning and out of the northwest, blowing 20-30 mph along the ridges with a gust or two in the 50’s.

Tonight we should see continued strong winds and a couple of flurries. Sunday should be partly cloudy and much colder. Highs will only get into the low 20’s. For the rest of the week we should remain unseasonably cold with no real storms in sight.

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 Mar. 13, 2005.

Thanks for calling!