Avalanche Advisory
Advisory: Uintas Area Mountains Issued by Craig Gordon for Thursday - February 13, 2014 - 5:31am
bottom line

Nothing is changing on this front... avalanches are breaking deep and wide, taking out the entire seasons snowpack.

At all elevations, the avalanche danger is HIGH today and human triggered avalanches are very likely on all steep, snow covered slopes. The danger is most pronounced on slopes facing the north half of the compass, particularly those with an easterly component to their aspect. Once triggered, today's avalanches will produce a dangerous and possibly unsurvivable slide.




avalanche warning

AN AVALANCHE WARNING CONTINUES FOR THE WESTERN UINTA MOUNTAINS WHERE DEEP, DANGEROUS, AND POSSIBLY UNSURVIVABLE HUMAN TRIGGERED AVALANCHES ARE LIKELY ON ALL STEEP, SNOW COVERED SLOPES. AVALANCHES CAN BE TRIGGERED FROM A DISTANCE AND LOW ON THE SLOPE.

 

 

 

current conditions

A moist, west-northwest flow delivered a couple inches of dense, heavy snow overnight along with temperatures hovering right around freezing. Westerly winds cranked most of Wednesday, blowing 40-60 mph along the high ridges. Winds calmed down around 1:00 AM this morning and are currently blowing in the teens and 20's. Riding and turning conditions are quite good in wind sheltered terrain.

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

Click here for trip reports and avalanche observations.

recent activity

No new avalanche activity from yesterday, but Tuesday was an eye opener.


Details describing the slide can be found here.

More avalanche activity is found here.

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

It's been a crazy time on the eastern front and I don't see the sketchy avalanche conditions mellowing out anytime soon. Problem is.... we got too much of a good thing too fast and the snowpack needs some time to adjust. Both natural and human triggered avalanches are everywhere and they continue to break deep and wide. Just a day ago, Ted and I got to see the aftermath of a huge sled triggered slide on Currant Creek Peak and it was quite sobering.

So here's the deal. Much of our terrain remains suspect and making matters more complicated is the fact that avalanches can be triggered low on the slope on relatively flat terrain. The danger is most pronounced in terrain facing the north half of the compass and today you need to avoid being on or below steep, shady slopes. It doesn't mean you can't ride. It does mean you need to consider what's hanging above you and what you're connected to. Once triggered, today's slides will easily break to weaker layers buried deep in the snowpack, resulting in a dangerous and possibly unsurvivable slide. Recent avalanches on the same type of terrain you wanna ride are huge clues to unstable snow.

Where the pack is deep, snow stability tests are producing failures within the recent storm snow. Where the pack is shallow, the same tests are failing at the ground.

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weather

Cloudy, warm, and wet conditions are on tap as a series of embedded waves within a west-northwest flow continue to bring high density snowfall through Friday. West and northwest winds blow into the 40's along the high ridges and temperatures warm into the mid 30's before dipping in the high 20's overnight. A break in the action is expected late Friday into Saturday and temperatures warm considerably, before a fast moving cold front brings additional snow Sunday.

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]

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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 Friday Feb. 14, 2014