Avalanche Advisory
Advisory: Uintas Area Mountains Issued by Craig Gordon for Wednesday - January 11, 2017 - 4:06am
bottom line

Heads up... it's game on and this is the real deal. Once triggered, today's avalanches will break deep and wide, resulting in a large, dangerous, and most likely unsurvivable avalanche.

In the wind zone, at and above treeline, the avalanche danger is HIGH and might be boarding on EXTREME today. Very dangerous, human triggered and natural avalanches are CERTAIN on steep, wind drifted slopes, especially those facing the north half of the compass, and particularly those with an easterly component to their aspect.

You'll find a CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger on steep wind drifted slopes at lower and mid elevations and human triggered avalanches are PROBABLE.
avalanche warning

THE FOREST SERVICE UTAH AVALANCHE CENTER IN SALT LAKE CITY HAS CONTINUED THE BACKCOUNTRY AVALANCHE WARNING.

* TIMING...THROUGH 6AM THURSDAY

* AVALANCHE DANGER...THE DANGER IS HIGH AND MAY BE REACHING EXTREME ON STEEP, WIND DRIFTED SLOPES.

* REASON/IMPACTS...HEAVY SNOWFALL AND STRONG WINDS, HAVE CREATED WIDESPREAD DANGEROUS AVALANCHE CONDITIONS. STAY OFF OF AND OUT FROM UNDERNEATH SLOPES STEEPER THAN 30 DEGREES.

THIS WARNING DOES NOT APPLY TO SKI AREAS WHERE AVALANCHE HAZARD REDUCTION MEASURES ARE PERFORMED.
current conditions

In the past 24 hours, the gift that keeps giving had its bead set on Trial Lake through the North Slope, delivering yet another 15" of snow with nearly 2" of water. The south half of the range received totals closer to 10". In either case, south and southwest winds haven't discriminated and they've been blowing steadily in the 30's and 40's, gusting into the 70's along the high ridges.

Above is a 24 hour timeline of Trial Lake (which is nearing 100" total snow depth) and Lofty Lake Peak.

Real time wind, snow, and temperatures for the Uinta's are found here.


Michael J was stomping along the Duke ridge and captured this image that pretty much sums up our recent storm cycle... pasted! More on his travels here.

Snowpack observations and trip reports are found here.
recent activity

Dave Kikkert arrived just as the dust was settling on this very large natural avalanche in Upper Weber Canyon yesterday. Breaking 6' feet deep and 600 plus feet wide, this tree snapping slide on a heavily wind loaded, upper elevation Northeast facing slope, broke to weak snow near the ground. More on Dave's insights here.

A full list of recent Uinta 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

No matter how you cut it, sensitive slabs have formed at nearly every elevation and on every aspect. In addition, just due to the shear volume of snow and water we've received, avalanches are beginning to break deep and wide... yes, it's pretty dicey out there. It doesn't mean I can't ride. It does mean I need to avoid being on, near, underneath, or connected to any slope steeper than about 30 degrees.

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

These are the kind of snowpack conditions that kill most all-mountain riders. You're best bet for the next few days is to simply avoid steep, wind drifted terrain, especially mid and upper elevation slopes facing the north half of the compass.

While I think many slopes experienced a natural avalanche cycle, there's plenty more that wait for a trigger like us to come along and knock the legs out from underneath. Yes... terrain that hasn't avalanched is teetering on the edge. The problem is complicated because with no break in the storm cycle, it's hard to tell what slopes slid and which remain intact. In addition, the snow will feel strong and bomber under our skis, board, or sled. In either case, we've gotta think not only about the snow we're riding in, but also the snow we're riding on and there's a few buried weak layers that are straining to adjust to all this added weight.
weather

Snow continues throughout the day with an additional foot or so expected. Temperatures top out in the low 30's with overnight lows under clearing skies dipping into the teens. Southwest winds crank in the 30's and 40's gusting into the 60's along the high ridges. Winds gradually diminish this afternoon and evening and snow tapers off tonight. A break is on tap for Thursday through the weekend, with lighter winds and a gradual warming trend.
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]

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 January 12th.