Wasatch Cache and Uinta National Forests

In partnership with: Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center, The Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center, Utah State Parks,

Tri-City Performance, Polaris, the Utah Snowmobile Association, the National Weather Service, BRORA, and Backcountry Access.

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Avalanche advisory

saturdAY january 28, 2006

This advisory expires 24 hours from the date and time posted, but will be updated by 7:30 am sunday january 29, 2006.

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, January 28, 2006 and it’s 7:00 a.m. Avalanche advisories for the western Uintas are available on Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday and all holidays.

This advisory covers the terrain from Daniels Summit, to Mirror Lake, to the North Slope of the western Uinta Mountains. That’s a lot of turf and I can’t be in all of these places at once. Your snow and avalanche observations are critical to this program and help to save other riders lives by getting accurate information out to the public. I’m interested in what you’re seeing especially if you see or trigger an avalanche. Please call 1-800-662-4140, or 801-231-2170, or email to [email protected] and fill us in with all the details.

Announcements:

“Beacon Basin” is good to go and ready to use at the Noblett’s Trailhead. While you’re waiting for your partners 
to gear up, swing by and test your avalanche beacon skills. It’s free and easily accessible from the parking lot. A big thanks 
goes out to members of the Utah Snowmobile Association for assisting in the installation and to Backcountry Access for 
providing all the gear. 
 
A special thanks to Tri-City Performance, Polaris and The Utah Snowmobile Association for stepping up to the plate 
and partnering to provide a new sled for the Utah Avalanche Center’s western Uinta avalanche forecasting program. 
 
The Moffit Peak weather station is up and running. This site was made possible through generous donations
by BRORA, The Utah Snowmobile Association, and the National Weather Service. You can view data by clicking here.

For avalanche photos click here.

Current Conditions:

The first in a series of cold fronts moved through the region yesterday and the mountains got a much needed fresh coat of white paint. So far we’ve received 8” of new snow at the upper elevations and more is on the way over the next 24 hours. Overnight, winds have been blowing out of the northwest at speeds of 10-20 mph along the ridges with an occasional gust in the mid 20’s at the most exposed locations. It’s cold out there this morning, especially at the upper elevations. The Moffit Peak weather station reports a finger numbing 3 degrees at 11,000’ and down at the trailheads it’s a little more tolerable at 14 degrees. The riding and turning conditions are quite good especially in wind protected terrain.

Avalanche Conditions:

It’s been a relatively quiet week along the eastern front, but that’s all about to change. With a good shot of snow and strong winds forecast for the mountains, the avalanche danger will be rapidly rising, especially this afternoon and evening. Gone are the days of last week where you could punch out bold line in steep terrain without a worry. In the past week our snowpack has become more complex and evaluating the avalanche danger will be a little trickier today and require more patience. First off, in wind exposed upper elevation terrain, there are some hard slick wind crusts which were formed by Monday’s wind event. On the other side of the compass, sun exposed slopes have developed slick melt-freeze crusts. In either case, both will act as good bed surfaces for avalanches to run on today and tomorrow. Slides triggered on these crusts have the potential of running further and faster than you might expect and will definitely pack a solid punch. Secondly, in wind protected terrain the old surface snow has grown weak over time and is now buried and preserved making for a dangerous combination. Take a moment and dig down with your hands and see what’s underneath the snow you’re riding on.

Yesterday, shallow soft slabs were quite reactive to the additional weight of backcountry enthusiasts and today I think these fresh wind drifts will be more sensitive and widespread. These drifts will be forming on all aspects throughout the storm so be on the lookout for, and avoid any steep slope with recent deposits of wind drifted snow. If you’re getting out and about today you’ll need to be aware of changing weather conditions, especially late in the day as the storm gets going. Terrain that you rode on early in the morning will need to be re-evaluated by the afternoon.

Bottom Line:

For upper elevations, at and above tree-line, the avalanche danger is MODERATE this morning on slopes steeper than about 35 degrees with recent deposits of wind drifted snow. A MODERATE avalanche danger means human triggered avalanches are possible.

If the forecast pans out as predicted, I’d expect the avalanche danger will rise to CONSIDERABLE in this type of terrain by late in the day. A CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger means human triggered avalanches are probable.

In wind sheltered terrain on slopes less steep than 35 degrees the avalanche danger is generally LOW. However, be aware of steep slopes and other people traveling above you.

Mountain Weather:

A winter storm warning is in effect for the western Uinta’s and it looks like we should see a decent snow event. Moisture will begin to spread into the area late this morning with snow developing by afternoon. Snow will be heavy at times late this afternoon through the overnight hours with 12”-18” possible by Sunday morning. Winds are going to be an issue, especially later in the day and tonight. Today they should be out of the west and southwest blowing 15-25 mph and then switch to the northwest tonight and become strong and gusty as a vigorous cold front bears down on the region. Before the cold air arrives, temperatures will reach into the mid 20’s at 8,000’ and low teens at 10,000’. Overnight lows drop into the upper single digits. Sunday we should see a few lingering snow showers, then high pressure returns to the area by late tomorrow morning. It looks like an active weather pattern through about midweek.

General Information:

If you haven’t taken one of our free snowmobile specific avalanche awareness classes, schedule one now before things get too crazy. Give me a call at 801-231-2170 and I’d be happy to tailor a talk for your group.

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.

This advisory expires 24 hours from the date and time posted, but will be updated by 7:30 am on Sunday January 29, 2006.

Thanks for calling!