Avalanche Advisory
Advisory: Uintas Area Mountains Issued by Trent Meisenheimer for Sunday - March 13, 2016 - 5:32am
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Most terrain throughout the range offers LOW avalanche danger. However, while it makes up a small portion of the terrain available to ride today, pockets of MODERATE avalanche danger exist and human triggered avalanches are possible, 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.

If you're confused by avalanche danger ratings, you're not alone. Check out a slick viddy describing how it all works.
current conditions

Current temperatures are in the upper 20's and the southerly winds are blowing 20-30 mph across the high elevation terrain. The snow surface is a mixed bag, on the southerly aspects you'll find crusts that are supportable and unsupportable. If you're after soft settled powder, gain some elevation and swing around to the more northerly (shaded) aspects.

It was awesome to see so many riders still getting after it yesterday. Busy day at Soapstone.

Travel is easy and the views were amazing yesterday along the eastern front. (Photo: Ted Scroggin)

Uinta weather station network info is found here.

Trip reports and observations are found here.
recent activity

A few shallow wind drifts sensitive to the additional weight of a rider were reported in steep, upper elevation, leeward terrain. Otherwise... pretty quiet on the eastern front.

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

When it comes to wind, the Uinta's never disappoint. As a matter of fact, the range is an overachiever. Even when I think all the new snow has been baked in place by strong spring sunshine and warm temperatures. Uinta-esque wind rakes the the high ridges and channels through terrain features, finding just enough loose snow to whip into fresh wind slabs. The good news is... today's shallow slabs are confined to the highest, leeward terrain throughout the range and in general these are manageable, easy to detect, and easier to avoid. Lose a little elevation, you lose the problem, and you're treated to soft settled snow. Done and done.

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.

Photo of Bald Mountain along the Mirror Lake corridor.

weather

Ahead of a decent storm system the south west winds will continue to blow into the 30's today and become increasingly stronger as the day wears on. By early afternoon, skies will become partly to mostly cloudy and temperatures will be in the mid to upper 30's. A change is the pattern will bring unstable weather across the northern part of the state. The storm should arrive late Sunday and linger into Tuesday. Snow totals could end up in the 8-16" range.

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 Monday, March 14th.