Wasatch Cache and Uinta National Forests

In partnership with: Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center, The Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center and Utah State Parks.

Avalanche ADVISORY

wednesday January 19, 2005

Good morning, this is Craig Gordon with the Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center with your avalanche and mountain weather advisory for the western Uinta Mountains. Today is Wednesday, January 19, 2005 and it’s 6:00 a.m.

Announcements:

We installed a locater training center at the Nobletts trailhead last weekend and “Beacon Basin” up and running! Many thanks go out to Backcountry Access for supplying all the equipment, Doug Page and all the volunteers who provided manpower, Jim Conway who was the brains behind the operation, and the Kamas and Heber Ranger Districts for their in-kind support. Swing by and check it out before going on the snow. It’s free and within walking distance from the parking lot.

We’re experiencing some technical difficulties with the Moffit Peak weather station. Hopefully I’ll have those worked out by the end of the week. Thanks for your patience.

For recent avalanche photos click here.

Current Conditions:

High pressure is building and skies have cleared out nicely overnight. Currently, temperatures are in the upper 20’s. Winds are out of the northwest, blowing 10-20 mph along the ridges. Yesterdays cloud cover severely green-housed the surface snow even at the upper elevations. However, you may be able to still find patches of dry powder on the upper elevation shady slopes.

Avalanche Conditions:

For a number of days now I haven’t heard of any avalanche activity, nor have I seen any. Normally I ‘d consider this a good sign, but after such an unusual storm I still think we could see some unusual avalanches. While there is plenty of terrain out there where you won’t trigger an avalanche, the problem is there are still booby traps lurking beneath the snow. Since we don’t have snow-penetrating goggles to see where these minefields lay, the best bet continues to be keeping your slope angles down and think about the devastating consequences should you trigger a slide. Unfortunately, traditional snow stability tests are not an effective tool because the weak layers are now buried 4’-6’ deep. There continues to be the possibility of triggering a deeper slab avalanche due to the prolonged warming trend of the past few days. While it’s going to be harder to trigger an avalanche, if you do, it’ll be quite large and dangerous. If you decide to get into steep terrain your best bet is to ride on slopes you know have already slid.

Bottom Line:

The avalanche danger is MODERATE today, especially on slopes facing northwest through east approaching 35 degrees in steepness. A moderate avalanche danger means human triggered avalanches are possible and natural avalanches unlikely.

The avalanche danger may rise to CONSIDERABLE with daytime heating, especially on and below steep sunny slopes. A considerable avalanche danger means human triggered avalanches are probable and natural avalanches possible.

Mountain Weather:

High pressure will remain over the area through Thursday, and then begin to weaken Friday morning as a wimpy little disturbance moves north of the region. For today look for a few high clouds, warm temperatures, and light winds. Highs today at 10,000’ will be near 40 degrees and at 8,000’ in the mid 40’s. Overnight lows will be near 27 degrees. Winds will be light and northerly blowing less than 15 mph along the ridges. Thursday looks similar and Friday we should see a few more clouds and cooler temperatures. The ridge rebounds for the weekend and there are no storms in sight.

General Information:

We’re interested in what you’re seeing especially if you observe or trigger an avalanche. Call 1-800-662-4140, or 801-231-2170, or email to uac@avalanche.org or fax to 801-524-6301 and fill us in with all the details.

If you’d like to schedule a free snowmobile specific avalanche talk and or a field day, please call 801-231-2170.

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. I will update this advisory by 7:30 a.m. on Saturday Jan. 22, 2005.

Thanks for calling!