Uintas Avalanche Advisory

Forecaster: Craig Gordon

AVALANCHE WARNING »

Dangerous avalanche conditions are occuring or are imminent. Backcountry travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended.
Notice:

An Avalanche Warning has been issued for the western Uinta Mountains. Strong winds, coupled with additional new snowfall have created dangerous avalanche conditions. Both human triggered and natural avalanches are likely, especially on steep wind drifted, upper elevation slopes. These conditions are expected to linger through the Holiday Weekend.


SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

Our fourth annual Avy Ride, a fundraiser benefitting avalanche outreach and education specifically for snowmobilers, will be held Saturday Feb. 26th. You can get more details by clicking here.


BOTTOM LINE

Danger by aspect and elevation on slopes approaching 35° or steeper.
(click HERE for tomorrow's danger rating)


Danger Rose Tutorial

A Level 4 (HIGH) avalanche danger exists on all steep, upper elevation wind drifted slopes and both human triggered and natural avalanches are likely. You’ll find this condition most prevalent on slopes facing the north half of the compass.

In addition, avalanches can break deeply into the buried surface hoar layer and a Level 3 (CONSIDERABLE) avalanche danger exists at mid and upper elevations on slopes facing Northwest, North, Northeast, and East. Avalanches breaking to the surface hoar layer will be deep, dangerous and possibly unsurvivable.

A Level 1 (LOW) danger exists on low angle, low elevation terrain, especially those with no steep slopes above or adjacent to where you’re riding.


CURRENT CONDITIONS

A nice shot of snow developed unexpectedly overnight and the Uinta’s got hammered. Trial Lake is the big winner with 14” of new snow, though Chalk Creek is close behind with 12”, and there’s about 10” near Strawberry and on the eastern half of the range. Snow densities are right around 8% and temperatures are in the upper teens and low 20’s. Yesterday’s east-southeast winds gusted into the 40’s and 50’s for most of the day, switching to the south and southwest last night and are currently blowing 25-35 mph along the high ridges.


RECENT ACTIVITY

Ted and Justin got out yesterday and rallied to investigate Thursday’s large avalanche near Humpy Peak. One rider was climbing the slope when he triggered the slide that partially buried several other riders waiting at the bottom, damaging sleds and leaving everyone pretty shook up. Fortunately all came out unscathed. Click here for more details regarding this very close call. Ted is a vital part of the UAC team and I want to thank him for all his hard work and great observations!

On Friday, Ted and I found a very large natural avalanche in the Chalk Creek drainage. The slide was only a few hours old and occurred on a heavily wind loaded, north facing slope at about 10,400’. While the crown rapidly filled in, we could see the avalanche broke to the ground on a steep, rocky breakover, taking out the entire season’s snowpack, knocking over small trees and running about 600 vertical feet.

Click here for more snowpack and avalanche observations.

Avalanche observations are always appreciated, and they help to inform others which saves lives. If you trigger an avalanche please let us know about it. Remember, observers may choose to remain anonymous if they wish.


THREAT #1

WHERE PROBABILITY SIZE TREND
      Over the next 24 hours.

Yesterday’s wind slabs formed in unusual locations at mid and upper elevations and now they’re covered over with new snow making them harder to detect. We were finding slabs in terrain facing the north half of the compass not only along the leeward side of ridges, but also much lower down slope and around terrain features like chutes, gullies, and sub-ridges. With additional snow and wind from last night, today’s slabs are becoming unmanageable and may break well above you creating a very dangerous avalanche. Today you’ll need to steer clear of any recently wind loaded slope, especially if the snow looks fat and rounded or feels and sounds hollow like a drum.


THREAT #2

WHERE PROBABILITY SIZE TREND
      Over the next 24 hours.

The more insidious avalanche dragon lurking in the snowpack is the buried and preserved surface hoar. Ted, Grant, and I continue to find it alive, well, and reactive in our snowpits. This is a weak layer of snow we’re not used to dealing with and avalanche conditions remain deceptively tricky. Sure you can ride plenty of steep slopes without a worry, but when all the right components come together, once triggered you’ll be staring down the barrel of a very dangerous avalanche.

Since January 20th there have been close to a dozen human triggered avalanches that we know of, all breaking on the surface hoar layer, resulting in several partial burials, one complete burial and numerous close calls. It’s a trainwreck out there and unless we start changing our riding habits someone is going to get severely injured or worse yet, not come home alive to their family at the end of the day. In conditions like these you gotta ride defensively and you’ll need to be on your “A” game. That means only having one person on the slope at a time and watching your partner from a distance at a safe location. Also, even if you’re on low angle terrain think about steep slopes above and connected to the slopes you’re riding on. Above all, think about the consequences of triggering an avalanche and have an escape route planned.


MOUNTAIN WEATHER

A storm system over the region will deliver an additional 3”-6” of snow during the day, before exiting the area overnight. Winds switch to the west and northwest later today and back off into the 15-25 mph range. Temperatures climb into the mid 20’s before diving into the single digits overnight. A short-lived break in the action develops for Monday with another active pattern setting up for midweek.


GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

The information in this advisory expires 24 hours after the date and time posted, but will be updated by 7:00 AM Monday, Feb. 21th, 2011 with a special holiday forecast.

If you’re getting out and about and trigger an avalanche or see anything interesting please let us know here. Or drop Craig an email : craig@utahavalanchecenter.org or call 801-231-2170

The western Uinta advisory program is going full tilt and forecasts will be issued by 7:00 AM on Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday and all holidays.


This information does not apply to developed ski areas or highways where avalanche control is normally done.  This advisory is from the U.S.D.A. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. This advisory describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.


This advisory provided by the USDA Forest Service, in partnership with:

The Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center, Utah Division of State Parks and Recreation, Utah Division of Emergency Management, Salt Lake County, Salt Lake Unified Fire Authority and the friends of the La Sal Avalanche Center. See our Sponsors Page for a complete list.