Logan

Strong winds are creating CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger in some areas. People are likely to trigger slab avalanches of wind drifted snow at upper elevations where strong south winds are creating stiff drifts. Avalanches in north facing terrain may fail on a persistent weak layer and could be triggered remotely, from a distance, or below.

• People should avoid travel on or under steep drifted slopes at upper elevations.
• Southerly facing and lower elevation terrain was bare or very shallow before last week's storm, so avalanches are unlikely and the danger is LOW.

Get free batteries for your transceiver and a chance to win 1 of 10 Black Diamond Rescue Kits, 1 of 3 Mammut Barryvox transceivers, or 1 of 3 BCA Tracker transceivers. Stop at a participating shop, fill out our survey and get a free set of batteries. Don't need batteries, but still want a chance to win? Simply fill out the survey to be registered. Promotion runs through December 19.

Skiers triggered a small slab avalanche of drifted storm snow on Cornice Ridge yesterday. It was on a north facing slope at around 9300', about 20' wide and 15" deep.

Another party reported triggering a few audible collapses and remotely triggered from below a small slab avalanche that cracked and moved a bit but did not run.

This week's storm deposited around 16 inches of new snow on upper elevation slopes in the Logan Zone. South winds increased overnight and are cranking along the ridges this morning, with gusts of nearly 60 mph. It will be mostly cloudy and windy today, with high temperatures at 8500' near 28°F. A south wind will blow along the ridges at 17 to 24 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph. The winds will continue to drift the fresh snow at upper elevations creating stiffer wind slabs, dangerous avalanche conditions are developing in some areas, and people are likely trigger avalanches on steep slopes.

At the highest elevations in the Logan Zone, the fresh snow stacked up on few inches of loose sugary faceted snow capping a very hard rain-crust from mid November. Sunny slopes up high and most terrain at mid and lower elevations were still bare of snow before the storm.

• Always follow safe backcountry travel protocols. Go one person at a time in avalanche terrain, while the rest of your party watches from a safe area.
• Check your avalanche rescue equipment, change your batteries, and practice often with your backcountry partners.
• Be very careful, keep your speed down, and stay in control. Encounters with shallowly buried rocks or down trees in the early season have led to many season-ending injuries.
• The Tony Grove Road is not maintained for wheeled vehicles in the winter season. Yesterday, some people drove 4-wheel-drive vehicles up to the lake, but conditions were apparently getting rather sketchy up high.

• Check out all the upcoming education classes and clinics HERE.
• Please submit your observations from the backcountry HERE.