Avalanche Advisory
Advisory: Uintas Area Mountains Issued by Craig Gordon for Saturday - March 17, 2018 - 3:20am
bottom line

In mid and upper elevation terrain, especially in the wind zone at and above treeline, the avalanche danger is MODERATE. Human triggered, dry snow avalanches are POSSIBLE on steep wind drifted slopes facing the north half of the compass, particularly those with an easterly component to their aspect. An avalanche triggered today can quickly get out of hand if it breaks into weak layers of snow, now buried deeper in our snowpack.

Lower elevation, wind sheltered terrain and most slopes facing the south half of the compass offer LOW avalanche danger.
special announcement

We couldn't get out on the snow without the great support from Polaris, Ski Doo, and Arctic Cat as well as KTM and Timbersled. Our local dealers make it happen. Tri-City Performance, Weller Recreation, Northstar's Ultimate Outdoors, Big Pine and Morgan Valley Polaris. We use these machines to monitor the snowpack across the state of Utah. We also use these machines to teach life-saving classes.
current conditions

Moisture slid through the region overnight, delivering an evenly distributed 3" of fresh, white paint. Under mostly cloudy skies, snow is falling and temperatures are in the teens and low 20's. South and southeast winds are cranking 30-50 mph along the high ridges. Sunny slopes took on heat yesterday and are crusted this morning. However, swing around to the north half of the compass, lose a little elevation and head to wind sheltered slopes... you'll be rewarded with soft, surfy snow.

Above are 24 hour temperatures and snow depth near Trial Lake along with winds and temperatures from Windy Peak. More remote Uinta weather stations are found here

Ted was near Bald Mountain yesterday and found great riding, stable snow, and miles of clean, white slate.

More on his travels along with a great body of recent trip reports, observations, and snow data here.

recent activity

Top image- Friday in Murdock Bowl Ted found recent shallow soft slabs on steep, wind loaded slopes.

Bottom image- Whilst Dave Kikkert and BJ found manageable sluffs on steep, wind sheltered terrain.

A list of recent avalanches 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

Southerly winds ramped up Friday right around lunchtime and continued cranking overnight. With some fresh snow to work with I bet today's newly formed drifts are going to be sensitive to the additional weight of a rider. While predictably breaking at or below our skis, board, or sled, today's drifts may pack a little more punch than you expect and by days end they'll be big enough to boss you around. As the day progresses and the storm materializes, look for and avoid fat, rounded pillows of snow, especailly of they feel hollow or sound hollow like a drum.
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 persitent slab and buried weaknesses in the mid and lower portions of the snowpack remained dormant during our last storm cycle... and that's good news. However, we're dealing with an irrational problem child that all of a sudden wakes up from a nap and comes unglued... and that's bad news. I don't think this latest round of snow, water, and wind is gonna wake up the unruly kid, but when I'm uncertain about sketchy avalanche dragons, I simply avoid where they live. Steep, mid and upper elevation terrain facing the north half of the compass are prime suspects as are slopes that already avalanched this season. So here's your exit strategy... if you're looking for soft snow and safe riding, simply tone down your slope angles and avoid terrian with steep slopes hanging above you.
weather

A cold front pushes through the area later this morning bringing a period of snow, with an additional 6" stacking up. High temperatures climb into the upper 20's with overnight lows dipping in the teens. South and southwest winds blow in the 40's and 50's early this morning, decreasing and switching to the northwest as the day wares on. A scattered flurry or two lingers into Sunday morning.
general announcements

The information in this advisory expires 24 hours after the date and time posted, but will be updated by 7:00 AM Sunday March 18th, 2018.

If you're getting out and about, please let me know what you're seeing especially if you see or trigger and avalanche. I can be reached at [email protected] or 801-231-2170

It's also a good time to set up one of our very popular avalanche awareness classes. Reach out to me and I'll make it happen.

This information does not apply to developed ski areas or highways where avalanche control is normally done. This advisory is from the U.S.D.A. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. This advisory describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.