Avalanche Advisory
Advisory: Uintas Area Mountains Issued by Trent Meisenheimer for Saturday - January 9, 2016 - 4:05am
bottom line

In the wind zone at and above treeline, a MODERATE avalanche danger exists and human triggered avalanches are possible on steep, wind drifted slopes, especially those that face the north half of the compass. Any slide that breaks to old snow near the ground will be deep and dangerous.

You'll find a LOW avalanche danger at mid and lower elevations, particularly in wind sheltered terrain.
current conditions

We have partly cloudy skies this morning, and snow totals in the past 48 hours are in the 5-8'' range. Current temperatures are in the mid teens and low 20's at most trail head locations. Wind speeds at mid elevations continue to be light or non existent out of the northwest, the upper elevation exposed terrain winds are 5-10mph gusting into the 20's.

Most of the popular areas you will find lots of tracks and riding conditions not so stellar. If you can get off the beaten path, soft powder and excellent boondocking does exist and riding conditions prove to be fun and floaty. The snow is very supportable and travel is as easy as it gets.

Trip reports and observations are found here.
recent activity

Yesterday a backcountry rider triggered a small soft slab avalanche on steep northwest facing slope at 10,500' in elevation. He was able to get away from the moving snow and was not caught or carried. The avalanche was 14'' deep and 30' wide (picture below). Also reported yesterday were sensitive new wind slabs just off the ridges in the more exposed terrain, these were small and manageable in size.

Photo: Michael Janulaitis

Recent avalanche observations are found here.

See or trigger an avalanche? Shooting cracks? Hear a collapse? It's simple. Go here to fill out an observation.
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

Though there's only an 5-8'' of fresh snow to work with, the recent winds formed sensitive, albeit shallow, wind drifts along the leeward side of upper elevation ridges. While mostly manageable in size and depth and predictably breaking at or below your skis, board, or sled, a manageable drift could get out of hand if it slams you into a group of trees or carries you over a cliff band.

Sled triggered wind slab from yesterday's field work, just south of Current Creek Peak. Mark Staples parks his sled next to the avalanche to check it out. (photo: Meisenheimer)
Avalanche Problem 2
type aspect/elevation characteristics
LIKELIHOOD
LIKELY
UNLIKELY
SIZE
LARGE
SMALL
TREND
INCREASING DANGER
SAME
DECREASING DANGER
over the next 24 hours
description

The slab is starting to relax and becoming progressively harder and harder to trigger each day. However, weak sugary snow still exists on the ground with very strong snow on top, this is a bad combo no matter how you cut it.

This weak layer at the ground will become active again with new loads of snow and wind. The old bed surfaces where avalanches ran during the xmas cycle are still weak and faceted (sugary snow) and will likely re-load and avalanche again with future storms.

Field Day Uinta Mountains 1 - 7- 2016 from Trent Meisenheimer on Vimeo.

While this suggests our snowpack is turning the corner towards stability, I'd still continue to carefully evaluate any steep, upper elevation terrain, especially if it faces the north half of the compass, and particularly if it's thin and rocky. Any slide that breaks to old snow is gonna be deep and wide, quickly ruining your day, if not your season.
weather

We will continue to be under a west northwest flow today and tomorrow bringing partly cloudy skies and a few snowflakes here and there. Temperatures will climb into the mid 20's today with overnight lows dipping into the teens. The west northwest winds should remain well behaved at mid elevations but, could become annoying along the higher terrain blowing to 15-25mph. As high pressure takes hold, significant warming is expected late Sunday into Monday.
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]. To register for the first in our series of on-the-snow sled specific classes you can register here.

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.

The information in this advisory expires 24 hours after the date and time posted, but be will be updated by 7:00 AM on Sunday, January 10th by Trent Meisenheimer.