Lawinenlagebericht

Uintas

Utah Avalanche Center
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Lawinengefahr

  • Hochgebirge
  • Waldgrenze
  • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
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Kernpunkte

MODERATE avalanche dangerexists in steep, rocky and complex terrain facing northwest through east where human-triggered avalanches are still POSSIBLE failing into buried, old, faceted snow.

Over the next few days, the likelihood of triggering an avalanche will increase as the snowpack experiences rapid change and historically warm temperatures create unusually tricky conditions in the backcountry.

Lawinenprobleme

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Hochgebirge
    • Waldgrenze
    • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
    Wahrscheinlichkeit
    Possible
    Größe
    3

    Weak, sugary facets that formed during January are now protected under a dense, cohesive slab buried between 1 and 4' deep. Obvious clues and red flags are not screaming at us any more, and there is a good chance we can trench multiple sets of tracks on a slope without triggering an avalanche. Heres the catch though, all we need to do is find a weakness where the slab and weak layer are susceptible to our additional weight as a rider, maybe around a rock outcropping or tree, collapse the pack, and trigger the avalanche.

    This problem is unpredictable, hard to manage and I am uncertain about how this weeks heat will affect the buried facets. As temperatures begin to increase, avoid complex slopes that are rocky and steep on the north half of the compass where this structure exists.

    On a north facing slope near 11,000' you can see a cohesive slab sitting over our weak, sugary, facets that have been the culprit of recent human-triggered and natural avalanches. With this weeks historical warm-up, our facets are going to get a historical test and things could get interesting.

  • Loose Wet

    • Hochgebirge
    • Waldgrenze
    • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
    Wahrscheinlichkeit
    Unlikely
    Größe
    2

    Last week, low elevations slopes on the north half of the compass took on some heat and produced small pockets of wet slabs. These slopes have similar structure to those at upper elevations, and are a potential indicator of whats to come later this week as temperatures reach historical levels.

    Temperatures are on the rise, and other than a few spring-like days, the range is in the process of going through its first significant warm-up of the season. Expect small pockets of wet snow to become reactive as the temps bump up, the winds back-off, and the pack begins to feel the additional weight and stress.

    Don't forget to keep an eye out for cornices peeling off and breaking with the heat, as they could potentially trigger a slide. And if the snowpack begins to get punchy, or you start to see pinwheels and roller balls whizzing around you, it may be time to change plans and head for cooler pastures.

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Recent Activity

No new avalanche activity has been reported in the last 24 hours. Click below for any recent slides that have been observed, or for travel and condition reports from across the range.

View All Avalanches & Observations Here

Snow and Weather

Nowcast - Partly cloudy skies and temperatures just below freezing kick-off the morning around 30F° at Trial Lake, and closer to 25F° along the high peaks. Winds blow moderately from the northwest around 20 MPH ushering in a high-pressure ridge that will bring unseasonably warm temperatures to the range. With that said, these could be the last below-freezing temps we see for a while -- Yikes!

Forecast - Expect mostly sunny skies and a high of 40F° at 10,000' for today. Northwest winds averaging 20 MPH help temper the heat for now, but over the next few days we loose the breeze, winds ramp down and temperatures ramp up to historical levels, 15-20 degrees above average.

Futurecast - Temperatures rise to historic levels through the end of the week into the weekend. Our snowpack will feel it's effects and there is no shot of a refresh, or any return of winter, with the hand of cards we currently hold.

Check out the Uinta Weather Network here!

Travel Conditions - North and south side gates are open on HW150, plowed from the north to Whitney and from the south to Spring Canyon, and of course SR35 remains open over the pass. Solars are melted out up to 9,000' and many windward slopes are scoured and worked to the dirt. The best riding exists above 11,000' on the northerlies, in protected and sheltered terrain.The price of admission is getting higher by the day. Low elevations have been struggling all season to keep up, and many roads up to 9,000' are hurting, making access and getting out of the lot a real crux of the day.

General Announcements

We are always looking for snow and avalanche observations or just general riding conditions. Reach out to us with questions, concerns, or if you see anything in your travels! Contact us directly through the info below:

Craig Gordon -- [email protected] -- 801 203 2170

Andrew Nassetta -- [email protected] -- 860 460 8142

This forecast is from the U.S.D.A. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. This forecast describes general avalanche conditions, and local variations always occur. This forecast was issued on Tuesday, March 17, at 5:30 AM and expires 24 hours after it was issued. We'll update this information by about 7:00 AM tomorrow.

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