Wasatch Cache and Uinta National Forests

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

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

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Avalanche advisory

wednesdAY march 15, 2006

This advisory expires 24 hours from the date and time posted, but will be updated by 7:30 am saturday march 18, 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 Wednesday March 15, 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.

Current Conditions:

A Pacific storm system marched through the area overnight, depositing 3” of new snow down at the trailhead elevations and up to 10”of snow above about 9,500’. It looks like the northern half of the range faired best on this flow, with storm totals about half that amount on the southern side of the range. Currently, temperatures are in the low to mid 20’s at 8,000’ and right around 13 degrees at 11,000’. Winds are still a nuisance, but they’ve shifted direction to the west and northwest at about 4:00 this morning with hourly averages in the teens and gusts in the low 40’s along the ridges. In addition to the upper elevation winds, be aware they’re also blowing at mid and lower elevations as well.

Avalanche Conditions:

The avalanche danger has changed significantly in the past 24 hours and this recent storm doesn’t quite fit into the predictable trend of those rolling into the area for the last week or so. The big difference with this storm is the wind. Yesterday’s pre-storm winds were ruthless, blowing all day moving snow around, rapidly overloading steep slopes at the upper elevations. This sudden jolt resulted in a number of medium sized natural slides that were easily big enough to take you for a ride. As a matter fact, my partner Ted Scroggin and I went to take a look at a fresh natural avalanche on the east side of Murdock Mountain and were treated to witnessing two more natural avalanches within about an hour’s time. All of this activity occurred on northwest through east facing slopes, above tree line in terrain heavily loaded by yesterday’s strong southerly winds. By late in the afternoon, winds were getting into more protected terrain forming shallow sensitive wind drifts which would crack out around your skis or machine. Today’s avalanche picture will be much more complicated because the wind drifts formed yesterday are now covered over with new snow, making them hard to detect. In addition, winds have switched direction, loading a whole new host of slopes, further confusing the stability trend. It’s going to be tricky out there today and avalanches have the possibility of being unmanageable at the upper elevations. Avalanches may break much wider and deeper than you might think and there’s the distinct possibility of having them break above you, resulting in a dangerous and unpredictable slide. The rise in avalanche danger isn’t just confined to upper elevation terrain. The combination of strong winds for two days and plenty of snow to transport would have formed sensitive drifts on leeward slopes at mid elevations as well. If you’re getting out on the snow today, you’ll need to have your avalanche radar fully tuned and be aware of the terrain you’re traveling in. Your best bet today is to avoid any steep slope with recent deposits of wind drifted snow. Avalanches have the possibility of running further than you might expect so even if you’re on low angle terrain think about steep slopes above you and avoid avalanche runout zones.

Bottom Line:

The avalanche danger in upper elevation terrain near and above tree-line, is CONSIDERABLE today on slopes steeper than about 35 degrees, especially those with recent deposits of wind drifted snow. Human triggered avalanches are probable, natural avalanches possible. Should winds be stronger or snowfall heavier than forecast, the avalanche danger may rise to HIGH in this type of terrain.

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

Mountain Weather:

An upper level storm system will continue to move through the area today, giving us an additional 2”-4” of snow before tapering off and becoming showery early this afternoon. Winds will continue to be an issue at the upper elevations blowing out of the west and northwest at speeds of 20-40 mph along the ridges. At mid elevations winds will be in the 15-25 mph range. Temperatures should remain in the mid 20’s at 8,000’ and upper teens at 10,000’. Overnight lows under a clearing sky will dip into the low teens. High pressure builds briefly late tonight through Thursday, before the next system which may favor the southern half of the state, is slated to arrive Friday and linger through the weekend.

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.

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 Saturday March 18, 2006.

Thanks for calling!