There is LOW avalanche danger on most slopes in the backcountry and avalanches are generally unlikely. However, areas with heightened avalanche conditions and MODERATE danger exist on steep upper elevation slopes, and people could trigger avalanches of previously wind drifted snow. Also, unseasonably warm mountain temperatures will cause potential for loose wet avalanches on some very steep slopes.
Avoid very steep previously drifted slopes and slopes with saturated snow. Even a very small, early season avalanche can be very dangerous if you are caught carried over rocks or raked through bushes and stumps.
Avalanches of wind drifted snow are possible on very steep upper elevation slopes.
Even a small wind slab avalanche could be very dangerous due to shallow early season snow conditions. You do not want to get caught and carried over rocks or strained through bushes and stumps, so it's best to avoid travel on all steep drifted slopes.
Loose wet avalanches are possible during the day on very steep slopes with warmth softened saturated snow.
Visit this website with information about Responsible Winter Recreation by the Utah Office of Outdoor Recreation."
Please report what you are seeing out there, especially any new avalanche activity. No avalanches were reported yet in the zone.
Mountain temperatures will again be well above normal today and tonight, but should cool tomorrow with increasing clouds and some snow showers in the mountains.
Heavy new snow and significant wind drifting created heightened avalanche conditions on many steep upper and mid-elevation slopes and despite rapid settlement, people could still trigger avalanches of wind drifted new snow in some places. Warmth will cause an increasing danger of wet avalanches on very steep slopes during the day, especially in sunny terrain.
Yesterday we found a buried wind slab on a east- northeast facing slope around 8600' in elevation.
As snow starts to accumulate in the backcountry, it’s a good idea to tone it down because it’s pretty easy to get hurt in shallow snow, and it’s absolutely the worst time to do so because you could ruin your whole season.
There is not yet enough snow to cause much risk of avalanches on most slopes now, but shallow, early season snow conditions can still be quite dangerous. Recently, shallow snow conditions are to blame for the tragic death of a Bozman woman who died while skiing a steep chute in the Montana backcountry (info here). Also, for that of a British Columbia snowboarder who was killed by head trauma in a “freak backcountry accident” while skiing on his split board in relatively flat, rolling terrain. He was found with his helmet off his head and on his backpack (info here).
The Tony Grove Road is not maintained for wheeled vehicles in the winter, and you can expect very poor driving conditions. Be sure you are dressed for winter and have a shovel and emergency items if you do attempt to drive up. Please keep your speed down and be patient.
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This forecast is from the USDA Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. The forecast describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.
