Avalanche Advisory
Advisory: Uintas Area Mountains Issued by Craig Gordon for Saturday - December 28, 2013 - 5:41am
bottom line

Terrain to avoid- steep, mid and upper elevation slopes facing the north half of the compass, particularly those with an easterly component to their aspect, where a CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger exists and human triggered avalanches are likely. Once initiated, today's avalanches will break deep and wide creating an unmanageable and dangerous slide.

A few, tired old wind drifts linger on upper elevation south facing slopes and a MODERATE avalanche danger exists. While not widespread, human triggered avalanches are possible on steep, wind drifted, sunny slopes.

If you're looking for go to terrain, head to low elevation slopes or terrain facing the south half of the compass where the avalanche danger is generally LOW..




special avalanche bulletin

HUMAN TRIGGERED AVALANCHES LIKELY IN MANY AREAS OF NORTHERN UTAH.  

THIS SPECIAL AVALANCHE ADVISORY IS FOR THE MOUNTAINS OF NORTHERN UTAH TO INCLUDE THE WESTERN UINTAS. DANGEROUS AVALANCHE CONDITIONS EXIST IN THE STEEP WEST TO NORTH TO EAST FACING TERRAIN. HUMAN TRIGGERED AVALANCHES 1-3 FEET DEEP ARE LIKELY. THIS SPECIAL AVALANCHE ADVISORY WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE WEEKEND.

special announcement

The Utah Avalanche Center wishes you a safe and powder-filled holiday season. Please consider the UAC in your holiday giving plans - your donations pay for these advisories and we can't do this without your help. What is it worth to you every day to get an avalanche and mountain weather advisory? The cost of a beverage or the gas it takes to get up the canyon? You can donate here.

Give the gift of STOKE! There are still a few slots open for our Avalanche and Riding Skills Workshop with Boondockers. Click here for more info.

current conditions

High clouds drifted into the region overnight as a weak storm system grazes the northern half of the state. West and southwest winds are blowing 10-20 mph along the ridges and temperatures are in the mid to upper 20's. Despite the lack of snow, riding and turning conditions remain quite good, Low angle slopes are fast and fun, and wind sheltered, mid elevation, shady terrain is the ticket.

Click here for current winds, temperatures, and snowfall throughout the range.

Click here for trip reports and avalanche observations.

recent activity

This sled triggered slab broke to the ground in Chalk Creek on Tuesday.

Another slide triggered on Christmas Eve. Check out Trent's great viddy describing the setup.

Avalanche Problem 1
type aspect/elevation characteristics
LIKELIHOOD
LIKELY
UNLIKELY
SIZE
LARGE
SMALL
TREND
INCREASING DANGER
SAME
DECREASING DANGER
over the next 24 hours
description

Nothing has changed since yesterday and reports of recent avalanches breaking to the ground confirm a basic snow stability fact- strong snow over weak snow.... no beuno. This is exactly the type of snow structure that leads to close calls and accidents. (Check out this great ob from Hoyt Peak)

Our snowpack is tricky, particularly on mid and upper elevation slopes facing the north half of the compass. The persistent weakness buried in the mid portion of our snowpack and the weak, sugary snow near the ground isn't going away anytime soon. We can't change the snowpack, but we can change the terrain we choose to ride in. Steep leeward slopes in the wind zone, especially those with an easterly component to their aspect, are right in the bullseye of the avalanche dragon sights today. This is the type of terrain that needs to be avoided, because if we do trigger an avalanche it will get out of hand very quickly, breaking wide and deep, taking out the entire seasons snowpack, and creating an unmanageably dangerous slide..

Michael Janulaitus found this avalanche near Duke Peak yesterday. This is the type of terrain where you could trigger an avalanche this weekend.

Wanna shred steep terrain? Head to mid elevation slopes facing the south half of the compass where the snowpack is stronger and more consolidated. This is go to terrain for today.



weather

Clouds and a few flurries are on tap for today as a splitting system slides through the area. Winds switch to the west and northwest throughout the day and increase slightly into the 20's and 30's along the high peaks. Temperatures rise into the low 30's before crashing into the single digits under clear skies overnight. Cool and sunny for Sunday with a slight chance of snow late Monday. The reality is... there are no big storms in sight.

general announcements

Remember your information can save lives. If you see anything we should know about, please participate in the creation of our own community avalanche advisory by submitting snow and avalanche conditions.   You can call me directly at 801-231-2170, email [email protected], or email by clicking HERE

This is a great time of year to schedule a free avalanche awareness presentation for your group or club. You can contact me at 801-231-2170 or email [email protected]

Donate to your favorite non-profit –The Utah Avalanche Center. The UAC depends on contributions from users like you to support our work.

Benefit the Utah Avalanche Center when you buy or sell on ebay - set the Utah Avalanche Center as a favorite non-profit in your ebay account here and click on ebay gives when you buy or sell.  You can choose to have your seller fees donated to the UAC, which doesn't cost you a penny.

Utah Avalanche Center mobile app - Get your advisory on your iPhone along with great navigation and rescue tools.

The information in this advisory is from the US 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 7:00 AM on Sunday Dec. 29, 2013