Areas of heightened avalanche conditions and MODERATE danger exist on upper elevation slopes in the backcountry. You could trigger an avalanche of wind drifted snow in exposed terrain. Dangerous deep slab avalanches failing on a persistent weak layer are becoming unlikely for a person to trigger, but they remain possible on some upper elevation slopes facing northwest, north, northeast, and east. You can find very nice and fast recrystallized powder, much safer conditions, decent coverage, and LOW danger on most other slopes.
Human triggered avalanches involving wind drifted snow are possible on upper elevation slopes.
Weak sugary, faceted snow from late October still lurks near the ground at upper elevations on some shady northerly facing slopes. Although gradually becoming unlikely for a person to trigger, large, destructive, and very dangerous avalanches are still possible where this poor snow structure exists. Dangerous avalanches on some slopes still might be triggered remotely, from a distance, or below! It looks like a few of the large natural avalanches from the weekend failed on a layer of smaller grained sugary or faceted snow that formed above the Thanksgiving storm snow.
With an eye on the future, we are monitoring persistent weak layers as they develop on the snow surface. High pressure conditions with cold clear nights is causing the nice surface snow to rapidly become weak and sugary or faceted on slopes at all elevations, and pretty feathers of surface hoar adorn the surface in many areas.
This 12-14-19 natural avalanche near Tony Grove Lake failed on weak, sugary or faceted snow near the ground.
I'm sorry to report Utah's first avalanche fatality this season. On Sunday 12-15-19, a 45 year old male snowboarder was killed in a backcountry avalanche in Dutch Draw in the Wasatch Mountains above Park City.
Here is the Accident Report
Locally:
No new avalanches were reported in the Logan Zone since last weekend's natural cycle that occurred during the windy storm. We observed evidence of several large natural avalanches on Sunday. These were generally 3' to 4' deep and a few hundred feet wide, including Miller Bowl, East (above Tony Grove Lake) which took down some trees and ran to the flats. Recent large natural avalanches were also observed in Wood Camp, and on Providence Peak, Naomi Peak, and Cornice Ridge.
A large natural avalanche in the Central Wood Camp Bowls. (12-17-19)
It's 24°F at the 8400' Tony Grove Snotel this morning, and I'm reading 47 inches of total snow, with 111% of average SWE for the date. It's 19°F on Logan Peak, and west winds are blowing around 20 mph.
We found very nice, fast powder Wednesday in Wood Camp.
A strong high pressure system will remain entrenched over the zone, mostly fair weather in the mountains and thickening haze in the valleys through the weekend. Expect mostly sunny conditions in the mountains today, with 8500' high temperatures around 31°F, 11 mph southwest winds and wind chills as low as -3°F. It will be mostly clear tonight with low temperatures around 12°F, 9 to 11 mph southwest winds, and wind chills around -2°F. It will be mostly sunny on Saturday, with high temperatures around 34°F, and increasing southwest wind 14 to 18 mph.
Recrystallized powder conditions are fantastic, even in sunny and lower elevation terrain. Heightened avalanche conditions exist on some drifted upper elevation slopes, and increasing southwest winds over the weekend will make the problem more widespread. Dangerous and destructive avalanches failing on a deep persistent weak layer are becoming rather unlikely, but remain possible on some upper elevation slopes.
Remember the Beaver Mountain Backside is the backcountry. Buddy up! Everyone venturing beyond the ski area boundary should have a partner(s), beacon, probe, and shovel.
Thanks to the generous support of our Utah ski resorts and Ski Utah, we have discount lift tickets available. All proceeds from these go towards paying for avalanche forecasting and education! Get your tickets HERE.
Consider taking an avalanche class, there are many different options. Click on the Education menu for a full list of classes from the UAC and other providers. Check out the Know Before You Go eLearning program for free, online, avalanche classes.... HERE
Need a Christmas present for your favorite backcountry partner? Get one of these cool t-shirts to support the UAC and other avalanche centers across the U.S. HERE
It's key to head into the early avalanche season with the proper mindset. In this podcast, we talk with UAC program director Bo Torrey. Bo talks about particular risks unique to the early season, tips and tricks for knocking the rust off your early season rescue skills, and charts out the path forward with avalanche education. HERE
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Remember your information can save lives. If you see anything we should know about, please help us out by submitting snow and avalanche observations....HERE. You can also call us at 801-524-5304, email by clicking HERE, or include #utavy in your tweet or Instagram.
