Avalanche Advisory
Advisory: Uintas Area Mountains Issued by Craig Gordon for Wednesday - March 9, 2016 - 4:14am
bottom line

While the avalanche danger is generally LOW, pockets of MODERATE avalanche danger exist, especially on steep, wind drifted slopes and particularly in terrain with a thin, weak snowpack. While it's becoming more the exception than the rule, any avalanche that fails on weak, sugary snow near the ground, has the potential to break deeper and wider than you might expect.




special announcement

Thursday 6pm: Utah Adventure Journals final installment of the speaker series at Snowbird presented by Scarpa. Raffle held to benefit UAC. Must be 21 or older to attend.

current conditions

Rain developed a few hours ago in the City of Salt and that translates to around an inch of fresh snow in the Uinta's. Southwest winds bumped into the 30's along the high peaks early this morning and temperatures are in the upper teens and low 20's. On a go-anywhere kinda base, excellent riding and turning conditions exist, especially in wind sheltered terrain facing the north half of the compass.

Our main man on the eastern front, Ted Scroggin, snapped this beautiful image whilst stomping around in Millcreek yesterday. More on his travels are found here.

Uinta weather station network info is found here.

Trip reports and observations are found here.

recent activity

Not exactly breaking news, but Ted discovered this sled triggered pocket, probably a couple days old. This slope is a frequent repeater as it gets heavily wind loaded from southwest winds getting channeled through this narrow pass. Riders often turn out below the top, usually lookers left where the slab is thinner, collapse the slope and trigger this small, but steep, east facing slope. (Scroggin photo and very insightful commentary)

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

A few fresh drifts are found on steep, leeward, upper elevation slopes, but in general these are manageable, easy to detect, and easier to avoid. Lose a little elevation and you lose the problem. However, if you're getting after it and your travels take you into the wind zone, look for and avoid any fat, rounded piece of snow, especially if it feels or sounds hollow like a drum.

In addition to fresh drifts, a rogue slab breaking into weak snow near the ground isn't out of the question and our usual suspects come to mind... steep, rocky terrain with a shallow, weak snowpack. Any slide that breaks to weak snow near the ground has the potential to quickly ruin your day.

weather

Snow showers fill in early this morning and we might be able to squeak a few inches out of this weak system before it exits the region. Westerly winds increase into the 30's and 40's along the high ridges and temperatures climb into the low 30's. Skies clear later this afternoon, winds die down, and overnight lows dip into the mid 20's. High pressure roars back to life and the heat turns on for Thursday and Friday with temperatures soaring into the 50's. A weak storm is on tap for Saturday, a break Sunday, and then a stormy pattern develops for next week.

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 If Craig is unavailable you can reach his partner Trent at 801-455-7239, email [email protected] 

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 will be updated by 7:00 AM on Thursday, March 10th.