2011/2012 Utah snow and avalanche conditions

wasatch surf · **Posted:** Thu Feb 16, 2012 7:05 pm

cool pics Nic and Doug! and nice work on the 2-a-day Doug!

Buckchow and I went chasing unicorns on an up and over tour today. some confusion at the start of the day led to us skinning up S LCC after 10am. It was a frying pan, no wet slide activity though. Snow in N BCC was great! other off aspects were good to fair due to crusting. a few tracks S Superior from the top. Ballsy. it worked for them, but I feel like that is a pretty bold choice given our conditions this year. Also some bold lines in days, but my god they looked nice!

ps: mid-way up binx ridge got some random whoomphing. skinned and rode angles up to mid 30's(with one section of the skinner maybe higher). Things seem to be healing but I wouldn't bet my life on it.

Snurfer · **Posted:** Fri Feb 17, 2012 8:12 am

Time to dust off the 195 Swally :clap:

Saturday Night: Snow. Low around 20. South wind around 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible.

Sunday: Snow. High near 23. West wind between 9 and 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of 9 to 13 inches possible.

Sunday Night: Snow showers. Low around 11. Breezy. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 6 to 10 inches possible.

Washington's Birthday: Snow showers likely. Partly sunny, with a high near 20. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of 3 to 5 inches possible.

hikeswithdogs · **Joined:** Mon Dec 26, 2011 5:10 pm **Posts:** 8

Snurfer wrote:

:shock: Time to dust off the 195 Swally :clap:

Saturday Night: Snow. Low around 20. South wind around 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible.

Sunday: Snow. High near 23. West wind between 9 and 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of 9 to 13 inches possible.

Sunday Night: Snow showers. Low around 11. Breezy. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 6 to 10 inches possible.

Washington's Birthday: Snow showers likely. Partly sunny, with a high near 20. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of 3 to 5 inches possible.

Woh where are you seeing that forecast?

Snurfer · **Posted:** Fri Feb 17, 2012 8:44 am

NOAA
http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=40.668399962792876&lon=-111.68563842773438&site=slc&smap=1&marine=0&unit=0&lg=en

hikeswithdogs · **Joined:** Mon Dec 26, 2011 5:10 pm **Posts:** 8

Snurfer wrote:

NOAA
http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=40.668399962792876&lon=-111.68563842773438&site=slc&smap=1&marine=0&unit=0&lg=en

Ugg why does a storm like this have to come in on a weekend where my touring partner is leaving town and the resorts will be packed with idiot tourists!

mej · **Joined:** Thu Jul 08, 2010 2:33 pm **Posts:** 43

That forecast seems really excessive, especially considering that is is the forecast for the Gobblers area. Those numbers are computer generated, so they can get kinda crazy sometimes. I think 12-18 is more realistic at Alta through Monday afternoon, with less elsewhere. The one wild card is that lake-effect is possible on sunday night into monday morning, and it would be blower if it happened, so small water equivalents would bring big snow totals. But it is super hard to forecast lake effect with any accuracy 60 or so hours out.

Went out to some new terrain this morning. Found unexpectedly good terrain and snow, but definitely chose a bad exit. Face-slapping brush, falling into creeks, and climbing out of gullies with 70 degree walls were all enjoyed. Snow skied very well above 7.5k on the north half of the compass. Anything on the south half was crusted. Widespread 3-5 mm surface hoar. Below 7.5k on the north half the crusty snow below Sunday's storm snow was apparent, but the turns were still fun.

hikeswithdogs · **Joined:** Mon Dec 26, 2011 5:10 pm **Posts:** 8

Yea that's kinda what I thought snowbird is now calling for 27-43' though , seriously?!?!?!?

http://createsend.com/t/r-2FDDD47F5003C7BF

Snurfer · **Posted:** Fri Feb 17, 2012 5:23 pm

Weather being dynamic and all, that forecast will update every few hours

But feel free to ride snowbird and alta to your hearts content :wink:

wasatch surf · **Posted:** Fri Feb 17, 2012 6:27 pm

went wandering around in millcreek today. found a lot of nice snow. bucky dug a pit. we got some results within the new snow. also got a pretty clean shear ECT 25 a few inches below the new snow. near surface facets seem to be the problem. If the snow happens could be fun to see how that layer reacts.

Snowvols · **Joined:** Wed Sep 15, 2010 12:19 pm **Posts:** 200

Went up to Reynolds today and it was pretty tracked out. Made the most of it though. Fun day and I'll throw a real TR on the main page. The snow was soft all day. Timed the single track exit just right too.

Are there any fresh lines in there? :lol:

I wish I wasn't a weekend warrior sometimes.

Snurfer · **Posted:** Sat Feb 18, 2012 5:53 pm

Nice work Snowvols. Looks busy up there... Figured I'd do a high trail run in advance of the storm, so I bagged Mt Aire...

Pano looking south into Elbow Fork

Gobblers

On the summit

buckchow · **Posted:** Sun Feb 19, 2012 7:09 pm

Old tracks in farmed areas are half filled back in from overnight storm. Old crust can be felt below fresh snow on south side of compass. Snow was deep and great riding on untracked north-facing. We did get one minor settlement crack on 10400' loaded ridge. Some small natural sluffs seen and some minor sluffing while riding ~35 degree NW facing. No soft slab activity witnessed in Mineral Fork. Please keep snowing.

mar123 slashes

singlewhitecaveman edges

Jason hops

yo

UTAH · **Joined:** Tue Sep 27, 2005 7:43 pm **Posts:** 811

^^^Bummed I missed you guys. Not the best snow out there, obvious wind slab found today, stubborn for the most part. Found a small slab.

Adopted a dog.

Take care everyone.

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2011/2012 Utah snow and avalanche conditions

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