Regarding accidents with multiple fatalities: One of the most basic things we all learn in introductory avalanche classes is to only expose one person at a time. The idea is to limit the number of possible victims to one. Unfortunately, there have been four events this winter involving multiple avalanche fatalities (2 in CO, 3 in CO, 3 in AK, and 4 in UT). If we say that only one person should have died in each of those avalanches instead of multiple people, then there should have been four fatalities and eight people still alive. Regarding solo travel and being …

This winter has been particularly deadly. To put it in perspective, we wanted to share this email that was sent to all U.S. Avalanche Centers from Dale Atkins, long time avalanche forecaster, educator, & researcher in Colorado. A disturbing and phenomenal, yet sad month — don’t know how else to describe it — with avalanche conditions unlikely to change in the near term and peoples’ behaviors unlikely to change for a long time. If avalanche fatalities were to follow the monthly averages for the rest of the season, here is what the 30-year averages …

The first half of February is off to an active start for the southern Utah Mountains. Consistent, but mostly small storm totals have graced the mountains with much needed snow. Here is a snapshot of the regional snowpack as of Feb. 18th, 2021: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/wcc/home/quickLinks/imap Over the last two weeks, several storms embedded within NW flow have deposited around 1.5" of SWE, translating to about 10-20" of snow in the high country. Additionally, a storm with SW flow resulted in the single largest loading event of the season thus …

Our Week in Review highlights significant snowfall, weather, and avalanche events of the previous week. (Review the archived forecasts for the Salt Lake mountains.) The danger roses for the Salt Lake mountains from Friday, February 12 through Thursday, February 18: Summary: A series of significant storms leading to a historic avalanche cycle, especially in Little Cottonwood Canyon. Storm and water (known as SWE for Snow Water Equivalent) totals include: Little Cottonwood: 60-80" snow with 4.0-6.65" SWE Big Cottonwood: 20-60" snow with …

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Our Week in Review highlights significant snowfall, weather, and avalanche events of the previous week. (Review the archived forecasts for the Salt Lake mountains.) The danger roses for the Salt Lake mountains from Friday, February 5 through Thursday, February 11: Summary: About all that needs to be said to summarize this past week: a very saddening avalanche accident on Saturday, February 6 with four avalanche fatalities on Wilson Glades in Millcreek Canyon. In all, over 30 backcountry avalanches are reported to the UAC since Friday, February 5. Friday, …

HISTORY AND PERCEPTION Over the years, the Wilson Glade has been a place of many close calls in part because it is often perceived as a more safe and welcoming destination than immediately adjacent terrain to the east (the Wilson Chutes) and the west (northwest chutes into Alexander Basin-February 2010 accident). The Glades are less steep and rocky and present as more "friendly" to the backcountry traveller. Owing in some part to their lower slope angle, they seldom avalanche naturally and more commonly build up a more connected slab, waiting for a trigger. The most recent close …