Avalanche forecast

Uintas

Utah Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

  • Alpine
  • Treeline
  • Below treeline
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Out of date — this forecast expired 8 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

While most terrain offers LOW avalanche danger, at and above treeline, in the wind zone, the avalanche danger is MODERATE. Human triggered avalanches are possible in steep, wind drifted terrain, especially on slopes facing the north half of the compass and particularly on those with an easterly component to their aspect. In addition, while becoming harder to initiate, human triggered avalanches breaking into deeper, buried weak layers is a distinct possibility, particularly on any steep slope harboring old snow near the ground. Remember- triggering a slide that breaks to old snow will immediately ruin your day.

Lose a little elevation or swing around to slopes with no old snow near the ground and the avalanche danger drops dramatically.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2

    Winds have been blowing steadily since Friday morning and now with a little fresh snow to work with, I bet they're having no problem forming dense pieces of wind drifted snow that will be sensitive to our additional weight. Found mostly on the leeward side of upper elevation ridges, I wouldn't be too surprised to find a pocket or two cross-loaded in terrain features like chutes and gullies. Heads up.... today's fresh drifts might be a little more connected then the past few days, and once triggered, may pack more of a punch than you might expect. So for today, look for and avoid any fat, rounded piece of snow especially if it sounds hollow like a drum. Lose a little elevation, you'll lose the problem, and be rewarded with soft, creamy snow.

    Road cuts and small slopes similar to the kind of terrain you want to ride are great "test slopes".... meaning, if you trigger a small slide the consequences are negligable. While I'm riding, I gather a lot of information by stomping on slopes with these characteristics and see how they react before I decide to get into big, committing terrain.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    3

    Not much has changed on this front and snowfall in the past 24 hours isn't going to tip the balance. As a matter of fact, recent snowpit stability tests combined with the lack of avalanche activity suggests the pack feels pretty comfortable in its own skin... and that's good news. However, the Uinta's are a big range and there's lots of variables when it comes to snowpack depth and strength. Remember- "persistent weak layers" in the snowpack are a headache because they remain problem children for long periods of time. And all we need to do is find one weakness, maybe around a bush or rock that we can't see buried underneath the snow, collapse the pack, and now we're getting worked by a moving piece of snow. The usual suspect terrain comes to mind- steep, rocky slopes with a shallow snowpack. So the way I'm avoiding this scenario is by simply avoiding the terrain where this setup exists.... mid and upper elevation, north facing slopes that harbor weak, early season snow near the ground.

    Obviously obliging to my partners request... "make the funniest snowpack evaluation face you can" ... OK here ya go :)

    Steep, rocky, with a thin snowpack... complex terrain like in the image above is the kind of place where you could trigger a slide that breaks to weak snow near the ground.

Additional Info

High pressure builds across the region today and we should see clearing skies as the day progresses. Winds switch to the northwest this morning and blow in the 40's and 50's, before decreasing later today. High temperatures reach into the mid 20's and dip into the teens overnight under clear skies. The next system is expected to cross the region late Sunday afternoon into Monday morning

Special Announcement

Check out the new free online avalanche course series developed by the Utah Avalanche Center. This is a great way to refresh your skills or prepare you for a Backcountry 101 or Level 1 class.

Recent Activity

No significant avalanche activity to report.

Snow and Weather

A brief burst of snow slid through the region yesterday and overnight, laying down 3"-5" of fresh, white paint. Under mostly cloudy skies, light snow still falls and temperatures are in the teens and single digits. West and southwest winds have been blowing steadily in the the 30's and 40's since early Friday morning and are just starting to relax somewhat and taper off into 20's and 30's along the high peaks. Riding and turning conditions are improving and with a little bit of searching, you'll find soft settled snow on wind sheltered slopes.

Above is recent hourly data from Chalk Creek (9,169') along with wind data from Windy Peak (10,662'). To view more regional weather stations click here.

Plowing is done on Mirror Lake Highway, but Wolf Creek Pass is still open. The steep slopes surrounding the pass are getting hammered... ridden hard and without incident. However, just 'cause you can see your rig parked near Wolf Creek, doesn't mean the terrain you're choosing to ride is good to go. Remember- if you are getting out and about, be prepared for your own self rescue. Wear and know how to use an avalanche beacon, shovel, and probe.

Ted was in the Double Hill environs this week and found good riding, but coverage is still a bit thin. More on his travels here.

General Announcements

The information in this advisory expires 24 hours after the date and time posted, but will be updated by 7:00 AM Sunday December 23rd, 2018.

If you're getting out and about, please let me know what you're seeing especially if you see or trigger and avalanche. I can be reached at [email protected] or 801-231-2170

It's also a good time to set up one of our very popular avalanche awareness classes. Reach out to me and I'll make it happen.

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 occur.

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