Avalanche Advisory
Advisory: Ogden Area Mountains Issued by Evelyn Lees for Thursday - December 31, 2015 - 7:10am
bottom line

The Avalanche Danger is MODERATE on mid and upper elevation slopes facing west through north through east that are steeper than about 35 degrees, where in isolated places a person could still trigger a large avalanche breaking to the ground. Lower angle slopes and those that have slid offer safer choices.
special announcement

Join us on Wednesday, Jan 6th, at 7 pm for a showing of the award winning film Meru at Brewvies to benefit the Utah Avalanche Center. For details and advance purchase discount tickets, go here.

Grab a discount lift pass are Here – generous donations by the Utah ski areas allow all proceeds to go the Utah Avalanche Center.
current conditions

Cold, calm and mostly clear skies this morning – it’s another beautiful day in the mountains. Yes, temperatures are in the single digits just above and below zero this morning, but the northerly winds are almost calm, with averages less than 10 mph. Snow quality remains excellent on the shadier aspects, and the snow pack is now mostly supportable for all users, including snow machines.
recent activity

No new avalanches were reported from the backcountry yesterday or from avalanche reduction work at the resorts. We appreciate all the great reports of avalanches that ran last week which continue to trickle in. We up date the avalanche list HERE, which will provide a good resource for the future.
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

Most of the snowpack continues to strengthen - if only we could ditch the facets sitting on the ground beneath. Steep slopes facing west through north through east that did not slide last week continue to be suspect - especially shallower snowpack areas and rocky terrain. A slide would be hard to trigger, but breaking near the ground if you do. A video of the problem by Greg Gagne HERE. While from the Salt Lake mountains, there is a similar snowpack in the Ogden area mountains.

Facets near the ground we wish we didn’t have - photo: Greg Gagne

Low angle terrain and slopes that have obviously avalanched are safer, and viewing old slides can give you a feel for the size should you trigger one. Photo: Wilson Glade avalanche, photo by Freddy
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

It is possible to trigger a few loose snow sluffs today on steep slopes as the surface snow continues to weaken.

Even though the avalanche danger has decreased, don’t lose your low risk travel techniques – go one at a time on steep slopes, and get out of the way at the bottom before the next person descends. Observe from a safe spot when your partners are high marking. Putting your up tracks in safe terrain, keeping your partner in sight whenever possible and good communication will all help prevent accidents.
weather

The cold snap continues, with ridge line temperatures only warming into the single digits today. The northerly winds will stay very calm, averaging in the 5 to 10 mph range, with gusts staying below 25 mph even along the highest ridge lines. A similar day tomorrow, with temperatures just a few degrees warmer. This slow warming trend will finally take off around Saturday, when we climb out of the deep freeze into the teens along the high ridges, and then into the mid 20s on Sunday. Next chance for a small shot of snow will be Tuesday night or Wednesday.
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 also call us at 801-524-5304, email by clicking HERE, or include #utavy in your tweet or Instagram.

To get help in an emergency (to launch a rescue) in the Wasatch, call 911.  Be prepared to give your GPS coordinates or the run name. Dispatchers have a copy of the Wasatch Backcountry Ski map.

Backcountry Emergencies. It outlines your step-by-step method in the event of a winter backcountry incident.

If you trigger an avalanche in the backcountry, but no one is hurt and you do not need assistance, please notify the nearest ski area dispatch to avoid a needless response by rescue teams. Thanks.

Salt Lake and Park City – Alta Central (801-742-2033), Canyons Resort/PCMR Dispatch (435)615-1911

Snowbasin Resort Dispatch (801-620-1017), Powder Mountain Dispatch (801-745-3772 x 123).

Sundance Dispatch (801-223-4150)

EMAIL ADVISORY  If you would like to get the daily advisory by email you will need to subscribe here.​ 

DAWN PATROL Hotline updated daily by 5-530am - 888-999-4019 option 8.

Twitter Updates for your mobile phone - DETAILS

UDOT canyon closures:  LINK TO UDOT, or on Twitter, follow @UDOTavy, @CanyonAlerts or @AltaCentral

Utah Avalanche Center mobile app - Get your advisory on your iPhone along with great navigation and rescue tools.

Powderbird Helicopter Skiing - Blog/itinerary for the day

Lost or Found something in the backcountry? - http://nolofo.com/

Ski Utah mobile snow updates

To those skinning uphill at resorts:  it is your responsibility to know the resort policy on uphill travel.  You can see the uphill travel policy for each resort here. IMPORTANT: Before skinning or hiking at a resort under new snow conditions, check in with Ski Patrol.  Resorts can restrict or cut off access if incompatible with control and grooming operations.

Benefit the Utah Avalanche Center when you shop from Backcountry.com or REI:  Click this link for Backcountry.com or this link to REI, shop, and they will donate a percent of your purchase price to the UAC.  Both offer free shipping (with some conditions) so this costs you nothing!

Benefit the Utah Avalanche Center when you buy or sell on ebay - set the Utah Avalanche Center as a favorite non-profit in your ebay account here and click on ebay gives when you buy or sell.  You can choose to have your seller fees donated to the UAC, which doesn't cost you a penny.

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 exist.