The avalanche danger is LOW with isolated pockets of MODERATE danger of lingering wind slabs along upper elevation ridges and MODERATE danger of isolated, wet sluffs on steep slopes as they get soggy in the heat of the sun.

This past weekend, the backcountry was packed to the brim with smiling faces on vehicles of every kind known and then some—snowmobiles, skis, split boards, snowshoes, saucers and tennis shoes. It seems like just yesterday…(clue the harps and wavy screen)…when we wore wool knickers and traveled on skinny skis and leather boots like tennis shoes. You would know anyone you might run into in the backcountry and you would share your gorp. My but times have changed. I have to admit, I’m deeply frightened and overwhelmed by the new hoards, many of which have to ask which drainage they are in, many without beacons and many have never even heard about the Utah Avalanche Center. Next time it storms, will 30 people be standing in the bottom of the local, popular slope, with 30 more people putting in up tracks all over the steep slopes above them—like this past weekend? It’s no country for old men. But what do you expect with delightful, powder-like snow of soft, recrystallized snow and surface hoar on a supportable, stable base, sunny skies and warm temperatures ? Today—and the rest of the week-- will be more of the same.

We did not hear about any avalanche activity from yesterday. Brett posted a nice gallery of avalanches from the strong winds last week.

The groundhog will definitely see his shadow today on our own Gobbler’s Knob. Strong, northwest winds along the upper elevation peaks should back off today and be yet another sunny, warm day in paradise. Ridge top temperatures should rise up to just above freezing today and rise to near 40 for Tuesday and Wednesday. Cool graphical forecast I consult a couple times per day. As the high pressure builds in over the next couple days, we will have the dreaded inversion with very warm air in the mountains and cold, smoggy air trapped in the valleys. The extended forecast calls for a noodle-y, weak storm on Friday as a closed, low pressure passes south of us. Unfortunately, it does not look like much of a snow producer.

The last of the Beaver Mountain Discount tickets have been reduced to $35, with all proceeds going to the Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center. Click HERE for details.

The Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center is hosting a Level 2 avalanche class in February which is now open for registration by going to the Black Diamond retail store. More information is HERE.

Tickets are now available for the annual Backcountry Awareness Dinner on February 13th, with registration through the Snowbird Renaissance Center.

Beacon training parks are up and running! There is one at Snowbasin, one on the Park City side at the top of Canyon’s gondola, one in Little Cottonwood near the Snowbird parking structure on the bypass road, and in Big Cottonwood a training park is at the west end of Solitude's lower parking lot.

If you want to get this avalanche advisory e-mailed to you daily click HERE.

For a text only version, the link is on the left side bar, near the top.

UDOT highway avalanche control work info can be found by calling (801) 975-4838. Our statewide toll free line is 1-888-999-4019 (early morning, option 8).

The UAC depends on contributions from users like you to support our work. To find out more about how you can support our efforts to continue providing the avalanche forecasting and education that you expect please visit our Friends page.

Your snow and avalanche observations help everyone in the backcountry community. Please let us know what you're seeing by leaving a message at (801) 524-5304 or 1-800-662-4140, or email us at uac@utahavalanchecenter.org. (Fax 801-524-6301).

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

Drew will update this advisory by 7:30 tomorrow morning.