February 11, 2021
Week in Review: February 5 - 11, 2021
Greg Gagne
Our Week in Review highlights significant snowfall, weather, and avalanche events of the previous week. (Review the archived forecasts for the Salt Lake mountains.)
The danger roses for the Salt Lake mountains from Friday, February 5 through Thursday, February 11:
Summary: About all that needs to be said to summarize this past week: a very saddening avalanche accident on Saturday, February 6 with four avalanche fatalities on Wilson Glades in Millcreek Canyon. In all, over 30 backcountry avalanches are reported to the UAC since Friday, February 5.
Friday, …
Read more February 10, 2021
Wilson Glade Terrain Summary and Historical Perspective
Drew Hardesty
HISTORY AND PERCEPTION
Over the years, the Wilson Glade has been a place of many close calls in part because it is often perceived as a more safe and welcoming destination than immediately adjacent terrain to the east (the Wilson Chutes) and the west (northwest chutes into Alexander Basin-February 2010 accident). The Glades are less steep and rocky and present as more "friendly" to the backcountry traveller. Owing in some part to their lower slope angle, they seldom avalanche naturally and more commonly build up a more connected slab, waiting for a trigger.
The most recent close …
Read more February 6, 2021
On the Efficacy of Avalanche Airbags and New Research - A Conversation with Dr. Scott McIntosh and Black Diamond's Andy Merriman
Ben Bombard
In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Scott McIntosh and Black Diamond's Andy Merriman to talk about, well first, good decision making, but then, in the event you get caught in an avalanche, how and why an airbag can potentially help you avoid the worst consequences. In particular, we're taking about BD's innovative JetForce Pro Avalanche Airbag. A study conducted by Dr. McIntosh et al. suggests the JetForce Pro pack could significantly delay asphyxia, buying buried backcountry users valuable additional time for rescue.
Scott McIntosh is a physician in the emergency …
Read more February 4, 2021
Week in Review: January 29 - February 4, 2020
Greg Gagne
Our Week in Review highlights significant snowfall, weather, and avalanche events of the previous week. (Review the archived forecasts for the Salt Lake mountains.)
The danger roses for the Salt Lake mountains from Friday, January 29 through Thursday, February 4:
Summary: A significant avalanche cycle on Saturday, January 30 with the second avalanche fatality in Utah this season. Since Friday, January 29 thirty-eight avalanches in the Salt Lake mountains are reported to the Utah Avalanche Center (27 alone on Saturday, January 30). You can review all avalanche …
Read more January 29, 2021
January 20-27 2021 Week in Review
Chris Benson
A significant storm impacted southeastern Utah beginning 1-22-2021. Southwest flow and good dynamics produced snowfall totals of 10-20" throughout the range over the course of 3-4 days.
Total snow-water-equivilent (SWE) from this storm is about 1.5". The Abajos received around 2.5" of SWE as much of this storm tracked a bit further to the south.
During the storm, miracously little wind occured as the Jet Stream was further south over New Mexico. That changed on Wednesday the 27th when consistent southerly winds picked up and gusted from 30-40 mph, transporting snow onto northerly …
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