Salt Lake

Avalanche problems

• 

  Wind Slabs

  N

  NE

  E

  SE

  S

  SW

  W

  NW

  • Alpine
  • Treeline
  • Below treeline

  Likelihood

  Very Likely

  Size

  2

  I am anticipating fairly widespread and sensitive wind drifts at all elevations and more prominently located on north to east to south facing terrain. Cross-loading across the corrugated landscape from sub-ridges into gullies will also be general. The winds are perfect for wind loading and the low density 5-7% fluff will move with the wind's will. Drifts may be up to 2' deep along the higher elevations and may break above you in steep terrain. NOTE that the locator rose signifies where drifts are most problematic. Terrain channeling may have drifts on all aspects, particularly at the mid elevations and well off the ridgelines.

  CORNICES HAVE GROWN SIGNFICANTLY IN THE PAST MONTH AND SHOULD BE TREATED WITH GREAT CAUTION.

• 

  Persistent Slabs

  N

  NE

  E

  SE

  S

  SW

  W

  NW

  • Alpine
  • Treeline
  • Below treeline

  Likelihood

  Possible

  Size

  4

  Our deep slab avalanches, while becoming increasingly stubborn, can roar back to life with any additional stress, ie: heavy snowfall, strong winds, etc. Cornices may also be a good trigger for these larger avalanches. We haven't heard of any avalanches into this old layering 3-6' deep for a week or so, but they very much remain central to my route selection. These deeper slabs exist on west to north to southeast facing slopes at the mid and upper elevations are you are more likely to trigger these along the periphery of the Cottonwoods or in steep, thin, rocky terrain or areas that may have avalanched during previous cycles. To be clear: areas such as Mill Creek, the PC ridgeline, Snake Creek and parts of upper American Fork are most suspect.

  These avalanches are tricky insofar that immediate signs of instability are often not present and it's easy to be lured onto slopes with other tracks, particularly when snow depths and snow tests might point "stable". The problem is the wide spatial variability across many slopes where you might hit the trigger point here (where the slab is thinner) but not there (where the slab is thicker).

  My travel advice is to continue to avoid being on or beneath steep terrain where the facets in the basement exist. See Trent holding onto the weak sugary faceted snow he's pulled out of the bottom of the snowpack.

• 

  Storm Slabs

  N

  NE

  E

  SE

  S

  SW

  W

  NW

  • Alpine
  • Treeline
  • Below treeline

  Likelihood

  Likely

  Size

  2

  Loose snow avalanches (sluffs) may be expected in the new snow on all aspects on slopes approaching 40° in steepness. Loose snow avalanches will start at a point (they're also known as point-releases) and fan out, picking up mass and speed, depending upon the fall line below. I anticipate that these may run naturally this morning and with provocation but become more stable as the day wears on. Note that natural new snow avalanches run during times of higher snowfall intensity.