On January 13, 2020, UAC Moab forecaster Eric Trenbeath was interviewed by Lisa Hathawy on the KZMU public affairs program, "The Great Wide Open." The wide ranging interview covers the early history of backcountry skiing in the La Sals, including early access issues that ultimately lead to a plowed trailhead at 9600', and the formation of the La Sal Avalanche Forecast Center. Avalanche fatalities including a tragic accident in February, 1992 that left four people dead, including the avalanche forecaster, are also discussed. Other topics include a look at the unique terrain and snowpack of the …

Our Week in Review highlights significant snowfall, weather, and avalanche events of the previous week. (Click here to review the archived forecasts for the Salt Lake mountains.) The danger roses for the Salt Lake mountains from Friday, January 24 through Thursday, January 30, 2020: Summary: As evidenced by the abundance of green in the danger roses, overall general stability in the snowpack, with a storm system arriving early in the week with avalanche activity occurring during the storm. Friday, January 24: Stable conditions. However, a glide avalanche is …

Image courtesy of Ditsong (formerly Transvaal) National Museum of Natural History In his seminal book The Hunters or the Hunted, the celebrated anthropologist Charles Kimberlin "Bob" Brain postulated that it was our relationship to monsters that established us as we are today. As a native of Tasmania, Brain wrote not about a whirling devil, so to speak, but of "the terrible cat", Dinofelis. Dinofelis was described as "a large cat less agile than a leopard or cheetah but far more solidly built. It hunted at night, and with great stealth." Brain continues, "A combination of …

If, as they say, that a picture is worth a thousand words; what to make, then, of moving pictures or film? If you're gonna tell a story, and if you want it to have a meaningful impact, it's important to establish an emotional connection with your audience and to take ideas that may seem esoteric and bring them to the stage. In the avalanche world, UAC forecaster Trent Meisenheimer is at the forefront of storytelling and communication through the use of video. Trent uses high-def cameras, drones, and cutting-edge video software to communicate the visceral realities of a field day in …

Our Week in Review highlights significant snowfall, weather, and avalanche events of the previous week. (Click here to review the archived forecasts for the Salt Lake mountains.) The danger roses for the Salt Lake mountains from Friday, January 17 through Thursday, January 23, 2020: Summary: An over-producing storm system on Friday, January 17, with additional snowfall midweek. Snow and water totals for the period include: - Upper Cottonwoods: 24 - 36" snow with 2.4 - 3.4" water - Park City Ridgeline: 16 - 20" snow with 1.3 - 1.5" water We are very sad …

Our Week in Review highlights significant snowfall, weather, and avalanche events of the previous week. (Click here to review the archived forecasts for the Salt Lake mountains.) The danger roses for the Salt Lake mountains from Friday, January 10 through Thursday, January 16, 2020: Summary: A very stormy period, with strong winds arriving early in the week, persisting throughout the week. Several natural and human-triggered avalanches, with a few breaking down into old snow down near the ground. Selected snow and water totals since Jan 1: - Upper Cottonwoods …

Our Week in Review highlights significant snowfall, weather, and avalanche events of the previous week. (Click here to review the archived forecasts for the Salt Lake mountains.) The danger roses for the Salt Lake mountains from Friday, January 3 through Thursday, January 9, 2020: Summary: Widespread human-triggered avalanche activity, as well as some natural avalanches, occurring on southerly aspects where a combination of facets and crusts exists and is buried down 12-18" deeply. What is unusual for this activity is that southerly aspects are generally the slopes we …