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 information update

sundAY april 23, 2006

This avalanche information update covers the terrain from Daniels Summit, to Mirror Lake, to the North Slope of the western Uinta Mountains. I’m still interested in your snow and avalanche observations, 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.

Thank you… Thank you… Thank you!

I’d like to thank those of you who helped to support this program all season. In particular, big thanks goes out to Utah State Parks and Recreation, the Kamas and Evanston Ranger Districts, the Utah Snowmobile Association, Tri-City Performance, Polaris Snowmobiles, Park City Powder Cats, the National Weather Service, BRORA, Backcountry Access and all of you who were diligent in calling in timely snowpack and avalanche observations.

Also, very special thanks go 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. 

Avalanche Conditions:

We have ended our regularly scheduled avalanche advisories for the season, but of course that doesn’t mean that there won’t be any more avalanches. In fact, spring snowstorms are quite common in Utah and it’s not unusual for the mountains to receive significant snowfall well into the month of June. Also, with warm temperatures and strong sunshine, wet avalanches will certainly occur. When the snowpack goes several nights without a good solid refreeze, deep wet slab avalanches will be possible, especially in steep terrain. In the absence of my avalanche advisory here are a few pointers to help you make your own snowpack and avalanche danger evaluations.

In general you can count on several types of avalanche conditions in the spring. Whenever we get a storm the avalanche danger will rise, as the new snow might not bond well to the existing hard, slick crust it falls on. As always, recent avalanche activity as well as cracking and collapsing of the snowpack are dead giveaways that the snow is unstable. Even if these clues don’t present themselves, be sure to do some tests on smaller slopes that are similar in aspect, elevation and slope angle to what you want to ride on. Choose test slopes that have minimal consequences, especially after a significant snowfall. If there is much wind associated with the storm or if there is snow available for transport before it gets cooked into place, expect to find potentially unstable wind drifts on leeward slopes.

Also, when the sun first comes out and the snow goes through its initial rapid warm up, avalanches will be likely on steep slopes. You can expect the usual round of wet sluffs and occasional wet slabs, but fortunately new snow instabilities tend to stabilize rather quickly in the spring due to the warm temperatures. As usual, you’ll want to get off of and out from under any steep slope during the heat of the day.

In addition, there’s an unusually deep late season snowpack still left in the high country and the avalanche season won’t be over for a while. Even though it feels like summer, remember to continue to be diligent with your safe riding techniques and carry a beacon, shovel and probe.

Finally, you can keep up on current weather conditions with a NOAA weather radio, or on the internet at http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/SaltLake.

You can view expired avalanche advisories from, this past season by clicking here.

Announcements:

If any terms confuse you, take a look at our new avalanche encyclopedia.
 
“Beacon Basin” is still up and running 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. 
 
The Moffit Peak weather station has been taken down for the season. This site was made possible through generous donations
by BRORA, The Utah Snowmobile Association, and the National Weather Service. 

For avalanche photos click here.

General Information:

It’s not too early to book a free snowmobile specific avalanche awareness class for next year and you can 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.

Have a safe spring and summer and we’ll see you back here next season when the snow flies!

Thanks for calling!