Monday - January 7, 2008 - 7:10 am

SUMMARY >>>

There will be pockets of CONSIDERABLE danger for human triggered
avalanches on slopes steeper than 35 degrees.  The complexity of the
snowpack coupled with recent avalanche activity requires caution and
humility while traveling through avalanche terrain.  Safe travel
protocol needs to be followed as consequences may be severe.
Forecaster: Drew Hardesty

CURRENT CONDITIONS >>>

Under partly cloudy skies, temperatures have plummeted to the single
digits at most mountain locations.  Winds are light and westerly.  The
Park City and Provo mountains picked up 8" during the day yesterday
with the Cottonwoods receiving 13-15" of 8-9% density snow.  Riding
conditions are excellent on all aspects.

RECENT AVALANCHES AND SNOWPACK INFO >>>

The few folks that checked in with us from yesterday's backcountry
outing stayed in mostly low angle terrain, and we didn't hear about
any significant avalanches outside of the rope lines.  Inside the
boundaries, however, avalanche control teams both in the Park City
areas and Cottonwoods continue to initiate large hard slab avalanches,
with some going to the ground up to 10' deep.  Many of these are being
initiated with only 2lb shots or air-blasts, indicating how ripe the
snow is for avalanching after being pummeled with 3-4" of water weight
from this last storm.  Ski cuts easily mitigated the sensitive new
wind drifts formed from the afternoon's gusty westerly winds.

AVALANCHE CONCERNS >>>

Expect to find some remnant wind drifts in the higher lee terrain that
may still be sensitive to the weight of a person.  These are more
likely to be found on northeast through southeast facing slopes as
well as any steep cross-loaded gullies.  Graupel pooling at the
bases of cliffs and along the transition zones from steep to well,
less-steep, may still be sensitive as well.  These aren't necessarily
aspect dependent, though more graupel has been found on the windward
side of the range due to orographic lift.

Lastly, it will still be possible to trigger a slide into old snow,
particularly in steep, thin rocky areas or shallower areas that had
previously been eroded or scoured.

MOUNTAIN WEATHER >>>

We'll see increasing clouds with a few additional inches possible
overnight.  Winds will be light and westerly.  Temps will be in the
low 20's at 8000' and the single digits at 10,000'.  Tuesday starts
the cycle of increasing southwest flow ahead of a potent-looking
storm.  A foot or more is likely by late Wednesday.  Continued
unsettled weather persists through the week, with a ridge building for
mid-month.