*** BACKCOUNTRY AVALANCHE AND MOUNTAIN WEATHER ADVISORY *** Good morning, this is Evelyn Lees with the Forest Service Utah Avalanche Forecast Center. Today is Saturday, January 2, and it's 7:30 am. This bulletin is brought to you in part by a donation to the Friends of the Utah Avalanche Forecast Center from the Uinta Brewing Company, brewers of Cutthroat Pale Ale, India Pale Ale, King's Peak Porter and Whiptail Golden Ale. Visit their tap room at 1700 South 389 West in SLC. There is still space available in the Friends of the Forecast Center's January 16, 17 & 18 avalanche class. For information call Eric at 261-2928. Announce only on the Alta Line (For LCC canyon employees only) ** Alta/ACE avi class, Jan 3,4,5 at Our Lady of Snow, on 3rd and 4th lecture at 6 to 10 pm, 5th field session 8:30-4. Cost $30, 21 person limit, call Dave Medara at 742-3702 ** Current Conditions: Nothing like an exciting day in the back country to start off the New Year. In addition to one skier triggering a slide while partly down the slope, there were at least 6 other slides triggered sympathetically by backcountry travelers. While no naturals have been reported, it's a very sensitive snow pack when a 150 lb mere mortal can unleash a ton of snow from 20' away. First, the current conditions and synopsis of the snow pack, after which I'll detail the slide activity. Overnight, the winds have picked up, and are averaging 25 to 40 mph from the NW along the highest ridge lines and peaks. Winds at the lower elevations are in the 10 to 20 mph range. Temperatures have dropped into the mid teens. During the December cold, dry spell, the Wasatch snow pack developed a uniform layer of weak, sugary, faceted snow, on all aspects and all elevations. Deeper layers in the snow pack also weakened. In the past week, two storms have added 1 to 2 feet of snow on top of the weak snow from the central Wasatch through the Ogden mountains. Predominately westerly winds through out the week did move and load the new snow into slabs. Yesterday, there was wide spread collapsing just about every where you went through out the Little Cottonwood, Big Cottonwood, and Park City mountains. Slides triggered by people from a distance in Little Cottonwood include 2 on Flagstaff, one in the Emma's, and one on east Hellgate. On the Park City side, a skier 20 turns down south Monitor triggered a slide, but was able to get out to the side. Another person sympathetically triggered a slide 4' deep and 40' wide on Pine Cone ridge, and there was a natural or sympathetic in the Willows in Big Cottonwood. Most of yesterday's reported avalanches were on wind loaded east to southeast facing slopes, steeper than 35 degrees. The slides averaged 1 to 3 feet deep, and up to 200' wide. The weak, collapsing layer is the sugary facets. Faceted snow does not stabilize rapidly, and I expect today could be almost as active as yesterday. While most of the slides that were triggered sympathetically were on southeasterly facing slopes, the weak facets exist on all aspects, and I would consider any slope steeper than 35 degrees suspect today. With these facets, just because part of a slope has slid does not mean the adjacent snow is safe. Additional The turning is fast, and there are plenty excellent, safe low and moderate angle slopes to play on. The danger of human triggered avalanches is considerable on slopes steeper than 35 degrees through out the Salt Lake and Park City mountains at mid and upper elevations. It may be possible to release avalanches from low angle adjacent terrain so be careful of what is above and around you. As the Wasatch mountains are urban mountains, think before you ski. Make sure no one is below you, and consider what should happen if a potential slide runs further than expected. And if you trigger a slide with in sight of one of the ski resorts, please report it as soon as possible, either in person or by phone to prevent unnecessary rescues. Some parts of central Utah got almost 2 feet of new snow. This will over-load an existing weak snow pack. The avalanche danger in these areas is high. Human triggered and spontaneous avalanches are likely. An avalanche warning is in effect for these areas. Mountain Weather: Utah will be under a cool, northwesterly to northerly flow for the next few days. A series of weak disturbances will graze northern Utah, bringing more clouds than snow. The winds will be bothersome though out the period, remaining a steady 25 to 40 mph along the higher ridge lines and peaks. Today will be partly cloudy, with a slight chance for snow showers this afternoon and tonight. Highs will be near 25 at 8000', and in the mid teens at 10,000'. Off the highest ridges, the winds will be quieter, averaging 10 to 15 mph. Lows tonight near 10. Tomorrow will be a repeat of today, but with a bit more sun and a bit less wind. The author of "A Horse With No Name" should give us a call. It was great! We would like to have a copy. (Read when pertinent: Avalanche control crews often shoot military artillery into selected backcountry targets in Little and Big Cottonwood Canyons to protect state roads. The crews usually shoot early in the morning or any time during storms. The Town of Alta will sound 3 short blasts of their warning siren 15 minutes before firing. If you plan to travel in the Canyons early or during storms, or for more information, please contact the UDOT at 801-742-3522 or the Town of Alta at 801- 742-2033.) To report snow conditions and especially avalanche activity call our office at 524-5304 or 1-800-662-4140. The information in this bulletin is from the U.S. forest service which is solely responsible for its content. This bulletin describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur. Carol Ciliberti will update this bulletin by 7:30 on Saturday morning. Thanks for calling. Lees