Snow and Avalanches in Utah 

Annual Report 2005-2006 

Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center 

In partnership with: 

Utah Division of State Parks and Recreation 

Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center 

National Weather Service 

Utah Division of Emergency Services and Homeland Security 

Salt Lake County 

Utah State University 
Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center Annual Report 2005-06 

2 

Cover photo: by Tom Martens. An explosive triggered avalanche in Cardiff Fork (same as above photo). 

All photos in this report are taken by the staff of the Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center unless otherwise 

noted. 

Copies of this report can be obtained by writing, calling or e-mailing: 

Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center 

2242 W. North Temple 

Salt Lake City, UT 84116 

801-524-5304 phone 

801-524-6301 fax 

Or view online at: uac@avalanche.org 

www.avalanche.org and click on Salt Lake 

Tom Martins photo: Explosive testing in Cardiff Fork produced one of the largest avalanches of the 

season in an otherwise very stable year. 
Annual Report 2005-06 Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center

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Table of Contents 

Overview—Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center ................................... 4 

A Look Under the Hood........................................................................ 6 

Season Highlights ................................................................................. 9 

Backcountry Observers Program........................................................... 10 

Sponsors............................................................................................. 13 

New Graphic Based Advisory................................................................. 16 

Overall Danger Ratings in Media Outlets ............................................... 18 

The “Know Before You Go” Program...................................................... 19 

Wasatch Season Summary .................................................................... 24 

Uinta Season Summary....................................................................... 30 

Logan Season Summary....................................................................... 34 

Avalanche Incidents and Accidents ......................................................... 37 

Avalanche Education ........................................................................... 45 

Media Contacts ................................................................................. 49 

Budget ............................................................................................. 51 

Appendix .......................................................................................... 52

 
Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center Annual Report 2005-06 

4 

The Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center—An Overview 

Our goal:

Help keep people on top of the Greatest Snow on Earth instead of buried beneath it. 

Where do avalanche accidents occur?

Ninety nine percent of all avalanche fatalities occur in the backcountry—areas outside of ski area boundaries 

where no avalanche control is done. Ski areas and highway avalanche control crews routinely knock down avalanches with explosives before the public arrives each morning. They have done their jobs so well that since 1980, 

less than one percent of avalanche fatalities have involved general public on open runs at ski areas or on open highways. 

What kind of people get caught in avalanches?

Ninety two percent of people killed in avalanches since 1985 have been recreationists, and they are almost always 

very skilled in their sport. In almost all cases their skill in their sport significantly outpaces their avalanche skills. 

Looking at the most recent 5 years of national data, nearly twice as many snowmobilers have been killed as any 

other user group, followed by climbers, backcountry skiers, snowboarders and miscellaneous recreationists such 

as hikers and snowshoers. 

How do people get caught?

In over 90 percent of avalanche fatalities, the avalanche was triggered by the victim or someone in the victim’s 

party. Which is actually good, because it means that, 90 percent of the time, we can avoid avalanche accidents 

through our route finding and snow stability decisions. 

 In summary, avalanche fatalities occur almost exclusively in the backcountry, almost always involve recreationists, 

and almost all avalanche incidents can be avoided if we choose.

We give backcountry travelers the weapon of knowledge. In order to avoid triggering avalanches, backcountry 

travelers need: 

Critical, up-to-date avalanche information.

Our avalanche advisories give the public critical avalanche information they need to make their life-and-death decisions in avalanche terrain and we forecast snow stability and weather trends into the future. Our information 

helps the public to decide what kind of terrain is safe, what kind is dangerous and we give them useful clues to look 

for when they venture into avalanche terrain. 

 The public can access these advisories in the following ways: 

• Recorded telephone message updated each day 

• Live interviews each day on three different public radio stations 

• The Internet 

• E-Mail 

• In times of extreme or unusual avalanche conditions, we issue an avalanche warning that reaches all the broadcast and print media as well as NOAA weather radio. 
Annual Report 2005-06 Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center

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Finally, we “preach the avalanche gospel” as much as possible to the local, national and international media. This 

season, for instance, several documentaries played on national television including the WeatherChannel, Discovery 

Channel, the Wall Street Journal, Skiing Magazine, National Geographic Adventure and Backpacker Magazine. The 

Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center staff is featured in all of these documentaries. 

Avalanche education:

The UAC staff teaches about 30 free, basic avalanche awareness classes each season and the Know Before You Go 

program teaches 120 classes and reach over 18,000 people. These not only give the public an overview of the 

avalanche problem, but also some basic avalanche skills. These classes encourage the public to take a more involved avalanche class offered by the private sector. 

Our web site is our newest focus on avalanche education. We have added an avalanche encyclopedia which explains many terms used in backcountry travel. Using web photo galleries with captions explaining different aspects 

and routines in simple terms is a very effective way in teaching inexperienced backcountry users. We are also providing more detailed information for advanced users in the form of snowpit diagrams and seasonal weather history 

charts. 

How We Help Solve the Problem: 

Just because people read or hear the information doesn’t mean they listen. Therefore, we try to make the advisories entertaining so that people will remember what they read and hear and enjoy the experience enough to use 

the advisories regularly. We try and use all the standard tools of effective writing and speaking such as using active 

voice, first person, personal examples and stories to illustrate points, humor where appropriate and reading the 

bulletins in a natural voice, like talking to a friend. The recorded bulletins are informal, chatty and funny, yet informative. 

 

We believe local forecasters do a much better job than distant forecasters.

Local people know local conditions better. They can get out in the mountains every day, they see weather and 

snow out their window and they talk with people on the street about it. Because of this, we believe that local people should issue avalanche bulletins for local areas, as long as they have the avalanche skills to do so. For this reason, four crews of avalanche forecasters operate in Utah, one forecaster operates in Logan, four in Salt Lake City, 

one in the western Uinta Mountains and two others cover the Manti Skyline and the La Sal Mountains near Moab. 

We believe in a strong field-based program.

Avalanche forecasting is just as much art as science. And because of this, computers never have, and most likely 

never will, be able to forecast avalanche hazard as well as an experienced and skilled human being. Avalanche forecasting works best when the forecaster has an intimate, daily connection to the snowpack. We notice that the 

longer we spend in an office, the more out of touch with the snowpack we become. Therefore we always put in 

one or more field days before our forecasting shift, and we seldom have more than two forecast days in a row. 

This is our philosophy and it seems to be working. More people access the FSUAC bulletin each season than any 

other avalanche advisory in North America, and the number keep increasing by an average of 20 percent per year. 

The numbers of people going into the backcountry keep increasing exponentially, yet the death rate has risen 

more slowly. We also see an increasing demand for avalanche education and information, not only by Utahans, 

but also by the national and international media. 

 
Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center Annual Report 2005-06 

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A Look Under the Hood

The UAC is operationally separated into four entities: 

• Bear River Range (Logan area – northern Utah and southeast Idaho) 

• Wasatch Mountains (Ogden, Salt Lake, Park City and Provo area mountains) 

• Western Uinta Mountains (Mirror Lake Highway, Weber Canyon, Evanston WY, Daniel’s Summit) 

• Manti Skyline (FairviewCanyon – Wasatch Plateau) 

• La Sal Mountains (near Moab) 

Toby Weed staffs the Logan operation with Dave Kickert as an assistant. Kickert is employed by Utah State University. A generous contribution from the Utah State Parks funds this position. 

Based in Moab, Max Forgensi and Dave Medara forecast not only for the nearby La Sal Mountains but they also 

issue weekend forecasts for the Wasatch Plateau—Manti Skyline area. The Moab office is located in the Moab 

Ranger District on the Manti-Lasal National Forest and us supported by both the Moab Ranger district and a generous contribution from Utah State Parks. 

Craig Gordon issues forecasts for the western Uinta Mountains and also does the lion’s share of avalanche education for snowmobilers in northern Utah. This position is supported by a generous contribution from Utah State 

Parks. 

 

Last, but not least, the vast majority of the backcountry use occurs in the Wasatch Range of northern Utah. A 

staff of four full time workers covers the Ogden, Salt Lake City, Park City and Provo area mountains—arguably the 

most heavily used mountain range in the U.S. Bruce Tremper, in his 20th season, is the Director. The rest of the 

very experienced Salt Lake staff include: Evelyn Lees, Drew Hardesty and Brett Kobernik. All are Forest Service 

employees under the Wasatch-Cache National Forest. The Salt Lake office is co-located with the National 

Weather Service at the Salt Lake International Airport. 

Finally, a private, nonprofit group, the Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center, contracts a number of “volunteer” 

observers, who are reimbursed for their expenses at around $10.00 per day. They also hire the intrepid Bob 

Athey as a full time backcountry observer. 

The Utah Avalanche Center is a Forest Service program under the Wasatch-Cache National Forest and the MantiLa Sal National Forest, in partnership with Utah State Parks and Recreation, Utah State University, the State of 

Utah Department of Public Safety, Division of Emergency Management, Salt Lake County, the National Weather 

Service and private contributions through the Friends of the Utah Avalanche Forecast Center. 

The public can access the bulletins in the following ways:

Telephone:

Salt Lake City - (multi-line PBX system at the University of Utah) (801) 364-1581 

Logan (multi-line PBX system at Utah State University) (435) 797-4146 

Park City (multi-line PBX system at Park City Resort) (435) 658-5512 

Ogden (multi-line PBX system at Weber State University) (801) 626-8600 

Provo (multi-line PBX system at Brigham Young University) (435) 378-4333 

Western Uinta Mountains (courtesy of Utah State Parks) (800) 648-7433 

Alta (multi-line PBX system through the Town of Alta) (801) 742-0830 

Moab (single phone line) (435) 259-7669 

Manti Skyline (courtesy of Utah State Parks) (800) 648-7433 

Snowmobile hotline (courtesy of Utah State Parks) (800) 648-7433 
Annual Report 2005-06 Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center

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Radio Stations - live on-air reports each morning 

KRCL 91 FM (7:50 am weekdays) 

KPCW 92 FM ((8:06 am weekdays) 

KCPW 105.7 FM (8:04 am each morning) 

Internet:

http://www.avalanche.org (Avalanche.org is a non-profit avalanche web site run by the professional avalanche 

community in the U.S.) 

http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/Saltlake (National Weather Service) 

http://www.csac.org (Cyberspace Snow and Avalanche Center) 

http://www.utahavalanchecenter.com (Friends of Utah Avalanche Center) 

E-mail: 

We offer daily automated e-mail of the advisories free of charge 

To contact our office: (801) 524-5304 (phone) 

 (801) 524-4030 (fax) 

 e-mail: uac@avalanche.org 

 

How We Generate Avalanche Advisories 

We split our time more or less equally between the mountains and the office. For the Wasatch Range, a staff of 

four people rotate through the office in which one person comes in at 4:00 am to issue the forecast for the day 

while the others either head into the mountains to look at avalanche conditions, teach avalanche classes or come 

into the office at a more reasonable hour to work on various computer or education projects. 

Field Day: 

A typical field day might begin at 6:00 in the morning. Like most avalanche professionals, we click on our trusty 

NOAA weather radio shortly after getting out of bed for the latest weather forecast., then, we fire up our home 

computer to look at the data from all the automated mountain weather stations. Like everyone else, we call our 

own avalanche advisory to get the latest information. Finally, after calling the forecaster for the day to check out, 

we jump in the car or on the bus and head for the mountains. 

The forecaster in the field usually travels on skis or snowmobile or both, using all the usual safety equipment like 

electronic avalanche beacons, shovels, probes, belay rope and cell phones. We seldom have a regular patrol area, 

but simply go to the area that concerns us the most, or to a place that we know is representative, where we can 

safely look at snow on a variety of aspects, elevations and terrain types. We almost always go into the backcountry—meaning areas outside ski area boundaries where no avalanche control is done. Field days are often very 

labor intensive affairs, using climbing skins on skis to huff-and-puff to the top of a mountain, take off the skins, ski 

down into another valley, put the skins back on again, go to another ridge, and so on. Along the way we dig a 

number of “snow pits” in which we systematically test the stability of the snowpack. 

Field information comes from many different sources, but the most powerful information usually comes from 

snow pits we dig on a variety of different slopes, or better yet, from profiles dug at the fracture lines of recent 

avalanches. A snow pit, like the name implies, is a hole dug in the snow about a 5 feet deep and 5 feet wide. On 

a smoothed snow pit wall, we perform a variety of stress tests to determine the stability of the snowpack and 

document the shear properties of weak layers. We also look at the crystallography of the various layers—crystal 

type, size, strength, water content and density, as well as measure temperature profile. Practiced avalanche professional usually take about 15 minutes for each snow pit. We would rather dig several quick pits in several areas 

than do one detailed pit in one specific area because we want to know the distribution of the pattern so we can 

communicate the pattern to the public. 
Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center Annual Report 2005-06 

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We also test the stability of the snow in other ways, such as sawing off cornices, which bounce down the 

slope, we keep close track of the pattern of recent avalanches and we always pay very close attention to the 

present snow surface because it's much easier to map a layer of snow when it's still on the surface then after it's buried by the next storm. Finally, when we get home, we write up our observation, graph the snow 

pit profiles and e-mail them to the avalanche center and also leave a detailed message on our answer machine in the office, which the forecaster will hear early the next morning. Often, we post photos of the day 

on our web site as well. Finally, each evening, we often call the person who will forecast the next day and 

talk to them in more detail, catch up on news of the day and bounce theories off each other. The days invariably end up being long, often racking up unpaid overtime. 

It takes years of experience and training to be an accomplished avalanche forecaster, not to mention to be able to 

do it safely. Most of our staff have degrees in some kind of physical science such as meteorology or geology. We 

also have a number of years experience doing avalanche control at ski areas, plus, all are accomplished mountaineers with many decades of accumulated mountain experience and several are veterans of mountaineering expeditions throughout the world including Nepal, South America and Alaska. Finally, we all stay in top physical condition so we can efficiently cover lots of terrain. 

Office:

The forecaster for the day wakes up around 3:00 am—earlier on storm days—and arrives at our office, co-located 

with the National Weather Service near the Salt Lake Airport, around 4:00 am. There's only one avalanche person in the office, so the pressure and time constraint is intense. 

First, the lead weather forecaster for the National Weather Service briefs us on the general weather setup and 

then it’s time to jump on the National Weather Service computers and give the weather an even more detailed 

look, so it can be adapted to specific mountain areas. Then, we check our answer machines, faxes and e-mails for 

field observations not only from our staff, but from a dedicated corps of volunteer observers, ski areas, helicopter 

skiing companies and highway control programs. Next, the forecaster has to face a blank computer screen and 

type up a detailed narritive of snow stability and mountain weather and customize the advisory for five different 

zones in northern Utah. After the advisory goes out via e-mail and on the Internet, we begin recording the advisories into six different telephone systems, each located in a different local calling area for northern Utah and each 

one customized for a different area. Finally, we, do three live radio interviews. By 8:15 am, we’re done and we 

collapse with relief, take that bathroom break we've needed for the last couple hours and take a walk outside and 

watch the sun rise and hope that our information is accurate. An average of 800 people call the avalanche recording and four times that number get it over the Internet, and many thousands hear it on the radio. 

Then, just when many people are eating their breakfast, we eat lunch. After lunch—or is it breakfast—there’s 

never a lack of telephone calls to answer, reports to write, spreadsheets and web sites to update, computer projects and media contacts. Finally, we issue the detailed mountain weather forecast by about noon, then head home 

by 1:00 pm. 
Annual Report 2005-06 Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center

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Season Highlights 

• We experienced one of the best winters anyone can remember as far as snow quality, riding conditions 

and, fortunately, a very stable snowpack. 

• Because of the very stable snowpack, avalanche incidents were dramatically down from the recordsetting pace of last season in which 8 people were killed. This season, we know of only 45 unintentional human triggered avalanches in the backcountry (the average is 100) with 43 people caught, 17 

partially or fully buried, 9 injured and 3 killed. The fatality rate was less than our 10-year average of 4.1 

per season. 

• We introduced our new graphic-based avalanche advisory, which uses a mixture between graphics and 

text to communicate critical avalanche information to the public. The new advisory format received 

almost universally rave reviews. We hope that it allows the public to more easily understand and visualize the complexities of avalanche danger and we hope it translates into saved lives. Many other avalanche centers around the country are adopting this graphic format after our example. 

• We began a pilot program of publishing the overall danger ratings in selected newspapers. The program was quite successful and we plan to expand it next season to include all newspapers, radio and 

television. 

• We introduced several new web-based products this season: 

• Season history weather chart which show past weather for the entire season 

• Snow profiles, which show the snowpack structure in an easily-understandable graphic format 

• Avalanche encyclopedia, which has detailed tutorials on various avalanche terms including many 

flash animations. 

• Our staff was featured in several national television and magazine articles including: 

• The Weather Channel

• Discover-Time documentary about avalanches

• The Wall Street Journal

• National Geographic Adventure

• Skiing Magazine, which featured an 18-page spread on avalanches, which we helped to produce and 

edit. 

• Backpacker Magazine 
Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center Annual Report 2005-06 

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Backcountry Observers Program 

Once again, observers throughout the range help to keep us informed about avalanche activity, their 

thoughts on snow pack stability, and photos of recent avalanches. As we only have one to two people in 

the field each day, these extra eyes and brains out there are a tremendous help. 

A big thanks goes to the unpaid observers whose steady stream of information into our email box full and 

messages on our phone answering machines. Whether it’s just once a season or on a weekly bias, every 

observation we receive is another piece in the snow stability puzzle we’re trying to complete. 

In addition, the Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center’s observers program was again an incredible success. 

The program is made up of two parts, contract observer Bob Athey and the paid “volunteers”. 

Bob Athey is contracted by the Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center to do observations in the field and 

report his daily findings. He was first contracted in early 90s and has been with the center since. He also is 

an instructor for the two avalanche education courses the Friends offer each year. Bob has recently become very computer literate and has an excellent understanding of web based products. His detailed compilations of text and photos that document his observations are informative and accurate. Bob also has a 

very keen sense of the winter snowpack and years of backcountry travel experience which makes it possible 

to investigate avalanches in areas where many other avalanche workers would not be willing to visit. Bob’s 

years of experience in the Wasatch are probably his biggest asset to the UAC. 

The excellent paid volunteer observer’s program was started in the late 80’s under Brad Meiklejohn, and 

continues to provide indispensable snowpack information to the staff forecasters. These people receive a 

very small token of thanks each time they make the effort after a long day in the backcountry to email or 

phone in an organized observation, often accompanied by photos and pit profiles. The extra effort made by 

these knowledgeable backcountry travelers and observers to email and phone in great observations makes a 

huge difference in the morning for us. There have been big changes in the last 15 years, including many 

more observers, an increased quality in observations and the use of the Internet to send information. 

One highlight of the program was the experienced and active group of Ogden observers. This year they 

kept information about the Ogden area mountain snowpack flowing into our office on an almost daily basis, 

and they have also helped with accident site investigations over the past two years. Their information is 

seasoned by many years of skiing and boarding in the Ogden area mountains, a true locals knowledge. We 

are still looking for growth in our observer network in the Western Uinta, Logan and Provo area mountains. 
Annual Report 2005-06 Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center

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0

500000

1000000

1500000

2000000

2500000

Calls and Internet Accesses

197719781979198019811982198319841985198619871988198919901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006

Season

Total Product access per Season

Other Internet Hits

Photo Internet Hits

E-mail Advisories

Internet Mountain W eather

Internet Bulletin

Salt Lake Telephone

Moab Telephone

State Snow-mobile Hotline

Alta

Telephone

Park City Telephone

Provo Telephone

Ogden Telephone

Logan Telephone

0

200000

400000

600000

800000

1000000

1200000

1400000

Photos

BulletinsEncyclopedia

Accidents

Annual Report

WeatherProfiles

Avalanche List

Season history charts

N um ber of hits

U tah Av alanche C enter P roducts 2005-06

Total product access continues to rise exponentially each season. The telephone used to be the primary way to 

broadcast avalanche information and it now only accounts for 3 percent of the total product accesses per season. 

The Internet has definitely changed things. 

Apparently, most people get their avalanche information the same way they read National Geographic—by looking 

at the pictures and reading the captions. Also, we tend to publish an average of two photos per day along with the 

avalanche advisory, so the numbers are a bit misleading. Still, photos are very popular. 
Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center Annual Report 2005-06 

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0

500,000

1,000,000

1,500,000

2,000,000

2,500,000

Number of Hits

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

Year

Internet Product Access

Weather Charts

Encyclopedia

Season Report

Accidents

Education

Media

Packet

Avalanche

 List

Mountain

Weather

Photos

UAC 

Advisory

25,825

600,650

10,297 9082 12,619

0

100,000

200,000

300,000

400,000

500,000

600,000

700,000

Logan W asatch Uinta M anti La S al

Advisory Internet Hits 2005-06

In this chart of just Internet access, the advisory and photos are definitely the most popular products. 

Not surprisingly, the vast majority of the use is in the world-famous, Wasatch Range. 
Annual Report 2005-06 Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center

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Thank you to everyone who contributed to 

make the Utah Avalanche Center possible. 

The Forest Service Utah Avalanche Centers would not exist without support from a broad base of partners 

and the public. This brief thanks does not represent the value of what each of these entities contributes to 

our program. Many of these organization’s long term commitments have lead to the stability of the Forest 

Service Utah Avalanche Forecast Center and allowed us to expand our forecast area and pursue innovative 

communication and education programs. So however small this thanks is, we would like to acknowledge 

the following people and organizations. 
Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center Annual Report 2005-06 

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Utah Division of State Parks and Recreation almost single handedly funds three avalanche programs - 

the Western Uinta Mountains, Manti Skyline and the Logan area mountains – to the tune of $82,000/year. In 

addition, they generously support the Know Before You Go education program with the loan of a power 

point projector. Many thanks to Fred Hayes and his cohorts for their generous support. 

The Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center keeps our engine running, filling in numerous gaps in our 

funding, from staffing to observers, education projects and equipment, often raising and spending over 

$50,000/year. They coordinate innumerable fund raisers and function as a 501c3, smoothing the way for 

potential partners to work with us. A very special thanks to the volunteer board for all their hours of work

and to the miracle worker, President Colleen Graham. 

Black Diamond Equipment, the company that started it all, both on a local level and as a model nationwide for company partnership with avalanche forecast centers. It’s not just the $8000 they kick in each 

year, the hundreds of hours of staff time, or the hosting of the annual fund raising party, but also the way 

they bring the outdoor community together. 

The Byrne Family for their annual financial donation to the Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center. Put 

this one after BD, as that's what puts us over the top financially at that party. 

National Weather Service for their generous and long term in-kind support of office space and office 

supplies, not to mention the unlimited access to personalized mountain weather forecasts. 

Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort for hosting the wildly successful Know Before You Go fundraiser 

with The Friends, raising about $15,000, and for hosting Backcountry Avalanche Awareness week. 

Salt Lake County for their generous long term support of $20,000/year. 

Utah Department of Public Safety, Division of Homeland Security one of our oldest dependable 

partners, who contributes generous $25,000/year. 

Backcountry.com donated $5000, some of the original seed money to start the Know Before You Go 

program, plus annual donations of a portion of their sales. 

The Utah Snowmobile Association partnered with the International Snowmobile Association for 

a $4000 grant for the Know Before You Go Program and donated $1000 toward the Moffit Peak weather 

station. 

REI provided space for the Friends annual ski swap, rooms for avalanche awareness talks, and a $3000 

grant for Know Before You Go. 

Uinta Brewing Company for a donation of $1200. 

Wasatch Backcountry Rescue donated a power point projector and a laptop to the Know Before You 

Go project. With help from Red Pine Rescue and The Canyons, they also bought and operated two 

avalanche training Rescue Training Centers, open to the public. 

Backcountry Access donated a complete Beacon Basin, an avalanche beacon training center that was installed at a snowmobile trailhead in the Uinta Mountains. Each year they also loan us avalanche safety equipment for teaching and demonstrations.

Thanks to our phone line partners, the Outdoor Recreation Departments at: University of Utah, Brig-
Annual Report 2005-06 Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center

15 

ham Young University, Weber State University, and Park City Ski Area, allowing us to use their 

dependable and high quality phone systems for avalanche forecasts. 

Deer Valley, Brighton and The Canyons who each donated $1000 to the Know Before You Go avalanche education program. 

Utah State University for use of their phone lines and for observers/ forecasters salary. 

Bear River Outdoor Recreational Alliance donated $250.00 towards the Moffit Peak weather station. 

And of course, all of our individual supporters who support the Friends of the UAC with their annual 

financial donations and their volunteer time, we couldn't do it without you. 
Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center Annual Report 2005-06 

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New Graphic-Based Advisory 

This season, we introduced a graphic-based avalanche advisory, which received rave reviews from a large 

number of users. As the dissemination of avalanche advisories have transitioned from the telephone recording to 

the Internet over the past 10 years, we have tried to adapt to adapt our products to the new medium. For the 

2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City, we introduced an avalanche advisory that used a mixture of 

graphics and text. Unfortunately, the interface to create the product was difficult to use so when we lost our 

additional staff after the Olympics, we had to revert back to the old, long, text-based advisory while we planned 

the next generation of the product. 

 After creating and testing several prototypes, Jim Conway, a web designer, who is also a professional, 

extreme skier and guide, designed the new graphic-based advisory. Chris Lundy from the Sawtooth National 

Forest Avalanche Center did the PHP programming and we went public with the new product around Christmas. 

 We designed the graphic-based advisory to make it easier for the public to understand the complexities 

of various kinds of avalanche problems and how they vary by elevation, aspect, size, future trend and how likely 

someone could trigger them. 

 For instance, it is very difficult to communicate how avalanche danger varies by aspect and elevation using only words, but an avalanche rose (an aspect-elevation diagram) can communicate even complex relationships 

in just a glance. Likewise with the probability of triggering and avalanche, the expected avalanche size and future 

trend. Finally, we have different icons to denote specific types of avalanche problems for the day. For instance, a 

backcountry traveler might encounter wind slabs along the upper elevation ridges and wet avalanche activity on 

low elevation south facing slopes. Each avalanche problem is completely different as far as where you would find 

it, how to recognize it and how to mitigate the problem. 

 The public response to the new advisory format has been almost overwhelmingly positive. Still, we plan 

to make some updates over the summer so that it works even better next season. 
Annual Report 2005-06 Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center

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Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center Annual Report 2005-06 

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Overall Danger Ratings in Media Outlets 

 For the past ten seasons, we estimate that 85 percent of the people killed in avalanches in Utah did not 

consult the avalanche advisory before heading out. In addition, most avalanche victims were killed on slopes where 

the avalanche danger was rated as High. In most other parts of the country as well as Europe, most avalanche 

fatalities occur at a Considerable danger. In other words, we have a problem with people who are largely uninformed about avalanches who go out on obviously dangerous days. Unfortunately, this group takes a lot of effort 

to reach. It means we have to get the word out using the media they already use, such as newspapers, radio and 

local television news. 

 We started a pilot program this season with selected newspapers including the Salt Lake Tribune. Each 

day we e-mailed the overall danger ratings for the following day and the newspapers published it the following day 

in the weather section of the newspaper. The program worked quite well and we plan to expand it to all media 

outlets for next winter. We will also change the media portal to a web page that each media source will bookmark. Each forecast region will independently update the danger rating for their region and they can do this any 

time of day or night. In this way, the page will reflect the latest information. 

 The overall danger ratings will also be color coded onto the Utah map on our home page. 

This is a mockup of the 

home page we hope to use 

during the 2006-07 season 

in which the media and 

public can easily see the 

overall danger rating for 

each area of the state. It 

also would display the 

travel recommendations for 

the day. 
Annual Report 2005-06 Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center

19 

Know Before You Go Avalanche Education Program 

Craig Gordon teaching one of an incredible 120 avalanche talks, which directly reached over 18,000 

people. 

Craig Gordon and Bruce Tremper flank the featured 

speaker, world-famous mountaineer, Conrad Anker 

at a fundraiser for the KBYG program at snowbird. 

Craig Gordon teaching the field session 

of an avalanche class. 
Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center Annual Report 2005-06 

20 

The “Know Before You Go” Program 

By Craig Gordon 

History 

The "Know Before You Go" avalanche awareness program was born out of the need to target young adults 

who travel in avalanche terrain, but often times have neither the proper safety equipment- avalanche beacons, shovels, and probes- nor much prior avalanche education. In many cases, just having basic avalanche 

awareness skills and being able to recognize obvious signs of snow instability can help save someone’s life. 

 

We aimed our sights at young adults in Utah for two reasons. First, it’s a critical target group to reach because more and more young people are going beyond the ski area boundaries in search of powder, steep 

terrain, and big air. Unlike years past when skiers flailed their way down backcountry slopes on skinny skis 

and flimsy leather boots, today’s gear is high-tech. Advances in equipment have made it possible for even 

novices with very little backcountry experience to quickly access avalanche prone terrain. Herein lays the 

problem. The gear has advanced, but peoples avalanche skills often times can’t keep up with the rapid improvements of technology. This phenomenon isn’t ski exclusive. If you look at snowboards, snowmobiles, 

and even snowshoes you see advances in technology make it easier for people to excel on these snow tools 

at a rapid pace. This education program was designed to reach out to all user groups. 

 

The second need for a young adult program became obvious by the sheer escalating numbers of teens being 

killed in the backcountry by avalanches. The Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center (FSUAC) teaches dozens of free avalanche awareness classes to thousands of people each year, but few teens attended. In the 

three years prior to the programs inception, five teen avalanche fatalities- in two separate events- may have 

been prevented with just some basic avalanche awareness skills. One tragic avalanche in particular occurred 

just after Christmas on December 26, 2003. Fourteen people were recreating in the runout of one of the 

largest avalanche paths in Utah, near Aspen Grove, after an intense snowstorm. Unfortunately, three young 

snowboarders were buried and killed by a massive avalanche. The avalanche gained both local and national 

media coverage. 

 

Shortly after this tragedy, Craig Gordon, a forecaster with the FSUAC, decided something needed to be 

done in terms of educating this age group. He proposed an idea to the FSUAC’s director Bruce Tremper 

about developing a program specific to young adults in the state of Utah. The best way to accomplish this, 

go right to the source- junior highs, high schools, and colleges- preaching the avalanche gospel to the 

masses. Bruce agreed this was a great idea but, where would the funds come from, and who would undertake such a massive project? As with most federal agencies the FSUAC gets by on minimal funding and personnel. 

 

Convinced of the need for this critical program, both Craig and Bruce worked on a business plan. The program would last for about an hour and to keep teens attention, it needed to be fast paced and energetic. 

The presentation would be given in three parts. An avalanche professional would go to a school assembly 

and start off with a 15-minute, narrated video that would show avalanches, people triggering avalanches, and 

the destructive power of avalanches. Next, they’d tell a dynamic story about a close call they had and what 

they’ve learned over the years. The presenter would follow this up with a 15-minute PowerPoint presentation about avalanche basics. A question and answer session would wrap up the assembly. 

 

On paper and in theory it all sounded good, but several challenges lay ahead. How would we get into the 

school system, who would do all the leg work for avalanche footage and produce a video, and finally, the age 

old question... where will the funding come from? With the backing from the Friends of the FSUAC, Bruce 

proposed they hire Craig as a contractor for the summer of 2004 and he would take charge of coordinating 

the program. Bruce would act as a technical advisor to the project. The rest, as they say, is history. 
Annual Report 2005-06 Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center

21 

Partnerships and Funding: Past and present 

The “Know Before You Go” program was established in the summer of 2004 and funded solely by donations and in-kind support. The majority of the annual operating budget is generated from a fundraising dinner held at Snowbird in February. However, like any new product to hit the market, financial support hasn’t 

been all that cut and dry. 

While preliminary funding from the Friends of the FSUAC got the project off the ground, it took visionary 

partners who trusted us to come on board and partner with this innovative program. Fortunately, Backcountry.com saw the need and planted the first seed monies, getting the venture through its initial stages. 

They trusted the reputation of the FSUAC and thought we had the expertise to give this program the attention to detail it deserved. Little by little, donations started to come in as people began to hear about this 

exciting new program. R.E.I. who has been a partner with the FSUAC for many years, were next to come 

on board with another generous donation. 

 

Also, over the years, Craig developed great working relationships with the Utah Snowmobile Association 

(USA) and wanted to get them involved. Bridging the gap between motorized and non-motorized users, the 

USA stepped up to the plate and applied for an education grant from the International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association (ISMA). This organization represents the four major snowmobile manufacturers and 

has two grant cycles each year, in which they grant monies for certain projects, usually education or safety 

related. This was the first avalanche project of its kind to ever receive grant monies from this organization. 

This unto itself was a major breakthrough for the program because it showed the strong commitment the 

snowmobile community has to avalanche safety and the well developed partnership the FSUAC has with the 

USA. 

 

In the fall of 2004, the Division of Utah State Parks and Recreation came on board as a partner and donated 

more money than all the other partners combined! The productive, fruitful relationship with State Parks and 

particularly Fred Hayes, the OHV coordinator, goes back several years. This significant donation was vital to 

the longevity of the program and all the hard work that went into it. 

 

A few new ski industry partners came to our rescue in the summer of 2005. First was Brighton Ski Resort, a 

long time partner of the FSUAC in avalanche education. While previous in-kind support included lift tickets 

and parking for the Friends three day Level One avalanche awareness courses, last year Area Manager, 

Randy Doyle, agreed to help the program out financially. In addition, Brighton’s proactive approach to avalanche education with their employees is a benefit to anyone working there. For the past two years, Brighton invited Craig to provide an avalanche presentation to its employees. There’s a twofold benefit to everyone attending. Not only do attendees take with them life saving skills at the end of the talk, they’re also rewarded with a free day pass at the resort. Positive incentives like this help us to further spread the avalanche message and pack the house with several hundred employees each year. 

 

Ski areas are an important partner in the avalanche equation and we’re thrilled to see the additional financial 

support this year from Deer Valley, The Canyons and Ski Utah. Bob Wheaton, Scott Pierpont and Nathan 

Rafferty respectively, were instrumental in getting their organizations to donate monies and we look forward to their continued partnership. 

 

Craig also applied for a grant through the Park City Chamber of Commerce and this helped to supplement 

a number of Summit County talks and helped defray video re-editing costs. 

 

Finally, in-kind donations from Wasatch Backcountry Rescue (WBR) facilitated the program on the road. 

WBR contributed a PowerPoint projector in 2004 and purchased a laptop computer for the 2005 season. 

This summer we hope to procure some other odds and ends, making an all inclusive package presenters can 

grab and go. Support from valued partners like WBR help to make this program a success! 
Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center Annual Report 2005-06 

22 

Program Development: 

Prior to its wildly successful first year, "Know Before You Go" was a tough sell. Craig worked diligently to 

open the door of the school system and it wasn’t always an easy task. After all, we were up against some 

stiff competition. The only programs welcomed by the Utah schools on a massive scale before were those 

that taught drug, alcohol and tobacco avoidance. This was a different type of program. However, once on 

the road, the programs dynamic message along with a very active avalanche year of 2004-05, propelled the 

program into the Utah schools spotlight. 

 

In year two, we regrouped; saw what worked and what didn’t and made the necessary tweaks to the original PowerPoint presentation, while keeping with the same basic avalanche curriculum message. In addition, 

the original video was re-edited over the summer of ‘05, adding a few more interviews and new avalanche 

footage. 

 

The presentation will get a little face lift this summer to keep the message fresh and up-to-date. 

Video development, editing and re-editing: 

The video was a tremendous hit not only with students, faculty and administrators, but also with other avalanche professionals. After premiering a rough cut version at the 2004 Jackson Hole ISSW, every regional 

avalanche center wanted a copy. A finished version was available in November and about 150 copies were 

issued to snow professionals not only in the US, but in Canada, New Zealand, France, and the Netherlands. 

Our first go around was an international hit! 

 

Original high quality footage came from TGR, Steve Kroschel, Steve Winter, and Richard Cheski. Craig also 

had some good rescue footage donated by KTVX News 4 Utah and KSTU Fox 13 News Utah. Jim Phelan, 

David Craig and Greg Painter chipped in with some amazing snowmobile footage that’s always a crowd 

pleaser. New footage this year came from Ben DeJong, Andy Jacobsen, Tahoe Films, and Canadian Mountain 

Holidays. The piece was edited by Craig and Video Wholesale of Salt Lake City. All the footage was donated 

for non-profit avalanche education. 

 

Craig saw the need to fill in some gaps and last summer conducted interviews with some of the world’s top 

riders- Kasha Rigby and Jeremy Nobis world renowned extreme skiers, and Doug Andersen a radical snowmobiler featured in a number of popular action sports films. In addition to some exciting new footage, Craig 

interviewed two young avalanche survivors, putting a local face to a near catastrophic event. All the new 

footage helped to round out the original video. While Craig started to re-edit late in the summer, the time 

consuming final version wasn’t ready until early January. We don’t foresee any additional edits in the near 

future. 

 

Nuts and BoltsPersonnel, presentations and scheduling: 

The first year objective of Know Before You Go was to reach out to 5,000 students. Word got out about 

the program and we easily doubled our intended goal, speaking to nearly 12,000 students. Like a rock star 

with a hit album wondering if they could be as successful the second time around, we set our 05-06 season 

sights on just trying to tie the watermark set the year before. Over the summer and fall, Craig lined up a 

host of new schools to visit and a number of schools we spoke to last year invited us back to present to a 

whole new audience. By seasons end we were able to eclipse last year’s wildly successful start by giving 109 

presentations, reaching out to over 18,000 students. 

 

The program is well represented with snow professionals from Ogden to Payson to Park City to Salt Lake 

City. Up north, ski patrol personnel from Snow Basin included Doug Wewer, and JR Fletcher. In the Salt 

Lake area Dean Cardinale, Mike Morris, Dusty Sackett and Ralph Whatley from Snowbird as well as Gabe 

Garcia from Alta helped to cover a bulk of the talks. Darce Trotter who worked as snow safety and ski pa-
Annual Report 2005-06 Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center

23 

trol director at Sundance for nearly two decades provided immeasurable assistance by covering talks in the 

Heber Valley, Park City and Provo areas. Finally, in Park City, a natural choice was to have Jake Hutchinson 

help us out. He’s the snow safety and ski patrol director for The Canyons and Jakes expertise was utilized in 

Summit and Salt Lake Counties. This dynamic team of dedicated snow professionals deserves a tremendous 

amount of credit. It was their hard work and commitment to avalanche education that made the program so 

successful. 

February Fundraiser: 

Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort partnered with the Friends of the FSUAC to help host the second annual 

"Know Before You Go" fundraising dinner. The well attended event, held in February in conjunction with 

Backcountry Awareness Week, raised over $13,000. This years theme revolved around Mount Everest 

with guest speakers Apa Sherpa, who has reached Mt. Everest’s summit fifteen times, and Pemba Doma, 

the first woman to summit from the north side of the mountain. In addition to being a wonderful humanitarian, she has lead two successful Nepali expeditions to Everest. The keynote speaker was Conrad Anker a 

world renowned mountaineer. 

 

Roger Kerr, the mastermind behind the fundraiser, is Snowbird Expeditions program director and we are 

truly indebted to him. Colleen Graham, the Friends president, teamed up with Roger and their hard work 

and dedication to avalanche awareness brings a diverse group of users together for this very special one 

night event, whose proceeds go directly to program’s operation and expansion budget. Roger’s extraordinary, unselfish efforts coupled with a near sellout crowd show just how much the community backs this 

successful program. 

 

Future Direction: 

We would like to see the “Know Before You Go” program become a mainstay in the Utah school system. 

On the heels of another successful season, we expect we’ll be busier next year as even more schools have 

expressed interest in the program. Also, working in conjunction with the Utah Board of Education, Craig 

will develop a sound curriculum and hopes the program will pilot as a state-wide, 8th grade physical education elective for the 2007-08 school year. This would be the first of its kind in the nation and could act as a 

successful template for other mountain communities to follow. The future for "Know Before You" go looks 

bright and the message is well received. As a matter of fact, in the past two years, not one teen has been 

killed in an avalanche! 

 

We look forward to the challenge of keeping our youth on top of the greatest snow on earth, rather than 

buried beneath it. 
Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center Annual Report 2005-06 

24 

Wasatch Season Summary 

By Drew Hardesty

The 2005/2006 will go down in history as perhaps the best season in memory because of a delightful combination 

between great riding conditions and a very stable snowpack. The storms rolled through with the regularity of marbles descending a spiral chute in a Rube Goldberg contraption. There were only three brief periods during the 

winter where it failed to snow for nine or ten days at a time. In other words, in a desert state usually characterized by big powder storms scattered through long spans of sunny days, it snowed 57% of the time, on nearly 100 

out of 173 days of our operational season, from just before Halloween through mid-April. And despite a few early 

season speed-bumps, warm temperatures and prodigious snowfall produced a mostly stable “coastal” snowpack. 

As one forecaster put it, “the overall stability looked like an EKG monitor, with the avalanche problems spiking 

with the storms and then rapidly fading away.” 

The Pacific storms rolled south one by one out of the Gulf of Alaska, moving inland over the central or northern 

Pacific coast, which allowed the Cottonwoods to record over 600” of snow. Somewhat typical of a weak La Nina 

winter, one could almost trace the Maginot line that kept the southern mountains bone dry while their cousins to 

the north enjoyed a continual blanket of snow. By March, the Maginot Line moved south and southern Utah doubled their snowpack after an early season famine. While this season did not have the same amount of blockbuster 

storms as 04/05, the snowfall was thankfully much more consistent. Because of the very stable snowpack, we suffered only three avalanche-related fatalities, which is less than the 10-year average of 4.1. Although we see a seasonal average of over 100 unintentional human triggered avalanches in the backcountry, this season, witnessed only 

76 incidents in which 45 were caught and carried, resulting in 17 partial burials, 8 injuries and three deaths. This 

was a big relief after last season’s record-setting eight fatalities. 

October 

October recorded 27.5”snow/3.34” snow water equivalent and just like the storms, our avalanche advisories were 

intermittent through the end of the month and the beginning of November. 

November 

November recorded 67”snow/7.3” snow water equivalent. Two periods of high pressure resulted in some formation of weak layers that hounded us through December. Most people stayed on rock skis or boards and early 

indications were of a thin winter. Dense snow and two rain/rime events left even the most optimistic people 

reaching for long novels by the great Russian authors. 

December 

Winter finally arrived in December where snowfall more than doubled the pre-existing snowpack, providing 

151”snow/14.87” snow water equivalent. With limited snowfall in the early season, the snowpack, particularly 

outside of the tri-canyons, had begun to deteriorate into weak, faceted snow. On the 3rd, a party of four experienced backcountry skiers suffered a very close call along with a few injuries warranting an assist by the Summit 
Annual Report 2005-06 Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center

25 

Country Search and Rescue team. The party decided to ski a slope called ‘No-Name bowl’, a steep northeast facing slope off the Park City ridgeline. One at a time, the party lapped the bowl twice. On the third lap, the fourth 

skier triggered the entire bowl to the ground, engulfing him and his three friends waiting for him down below. 

While no one was completely buried, two were reportedly unable to dig themselves out. This was an extremely 

close call that could have resulted in four fatalities. 

Just after Christmas, the storms began in earnest. We suffered our first fatality of the season in upper Aspen 

Grove on Timpanogos in the Provo area, not far from the accident site that claimed three young victims the day 

after Christmas 2003. Two fit snowshoers hiked up high into Primrose Cirque on a windy, stormy day. Both 

likely triggered the avalanche, which buried one and kept one on top of the debris. Neither had any rescue gear 

and the survivor immediately called 911 for help. Worsening weather and avalanche conditions combined with a 

very dangerous location precluded an extended search for the victim, and the body was left to melt out in spring. 

January 

January followed in the snow footsteps of December. Totals were 121” snow/10.34” snow water equivalent. All 

but nine days of the month had measurable precipitation, and we never saw the DJI (dreaded January inversion), so 

common in most years. By the end of the month, season totals exceeded 350” and it began feeling like a real Wasatch winter. Still emblematic of a maritime snowpack, weak layer formation was minimized due to the warm temperatures and continued snowfall. 

February 

February provided a let-down, providing ‘just’ 68” snow/6.52” snow water equivalent. The initial heavy snowfall 

overloaded a thinly buried weak layer that provided some close calls in some radical terrain around the turn of the 

month. Once incident occurred just below the Monte Cristo/Superior ridgeline as a UDOT avalanche forecaster 

was inspecting the crown of a recent avalanche. An unsuspecting party triggered a cornice from above, bowling 

the forecaster over, resulting in a slide-for-life situation. He fortunately was able to arrest on the bed surface as his 

gear was carried down into the choke and over some cliff-bands a couple thousand feet below. Another incident 

just off the summit of Box Elder revolved around the third skier triggering a new wind drift on a bed of weak 

snow, carrying him nearly 2000’ down to the flats. Miraculously, he walked out of it unscathed. The same day, just 

off the north side of Little Superior, a party of four collapsed a buried weak layer, triggering a hard slab avalanche. 

The avalanche immediately engulfed the four, carrying them a few hundred feet, leaving them all partially buried. 

March 

The hose turned on again in March with the upper Cottonwoods recording 157” snow/10.46” snow water equivalent. Twenty-one of thirty-one days had measurable precipitation, making it one of the snowier Marches in years. 

In what has now become a rule rather than an exception, Utah suffered another fatality from someone accessing 

the backcountry from Snowbasin ski resort. On the 11th, a 34 year old man perished after triggering a fresh wind 

drift on a steep northwest facing slope near Taylor Canyon, which is just east of Snowbasin and overlooks the 
Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center Annual Report 2005-06 

26 

town of Ogden. Significant snowfall and winds toward the end of the month led to a build-up of massive cornices, 

resulting in three near-misses in the last week, followed by a cornice-induced fatality a couple days later. 

April 

Continued heavy snowfall and winds caused avalanche problems early in the month. The upper elevations recorded 64” of snow/64.8” snow water equivalent. Again, the activity would spike during and just after the storms, 

and typically settle out a day or two afterwards. On the 3rd, a man in his twenties died while traversing along a 

corniced ridge in the backcountry adjacent to Brighton resort. Apparently, while following footsteps along the lip 

of the cornice, the cornice broke behind him, dropping him onto the steep rocky slope below. The impact pulled 

out another 2’ deep slab avalanche, burying him with a hand sticking out of the snow. The young man accounted 

for Utah’s third fatality of the season. In all three fatalities, our avalanche advisories very accurately described the 

conditions that caused the accident. 

In mid April, the last major storm offered nearly 2’ of cold fresh powder for the last fling of a very memorable season. After that, the weather blessed us with a slow warm up and the season died with a thankful whimper.

Popular backcountry terrain in Big Cottonwood Canyon,. From left: Mineral Fork, Mill B South, Broad’s Fork 

and Stairs Gulch. 
Annual Report 2005-06 Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center

27 

Typical of Wasatch skiers, they are very aggressive after a storm. Here Cardiac Bowl is filled with eager backcountry skiers who are triggering several shallow, soft, slab avalanches. Although one person was caught, no one 

was injured. 

The sprawling Salt Lake City lies directly at the foot of the very steep and very snowy Wasatch Range. Backcountry skiers, snowboarders, snowshoers and hikers can access dangerous avalanche terrain very easily from any 

road or trailhead. We suspect that there is more interaction between avalanches and people in the Wasatch Range 

than anywhere else in the country. 
Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center Annual Report 2005-06 

28 

Season

Year 

ending Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. Total

1944-45 1945 --- 57.0 19.5 67.0 --- 57.0

1945-46 1946 109.0 83.0 84.5 50.0 69.0 55.5 451.0

1946-47 1947 69.0 63.0 61.0 53.0 68.0 60.0 374.0

1947-48 1948 118.0 80.0 46.0 66.0 165.0 74.0 549.0

1948-49 1949 71.0 160.0 132.0 58.0 97.0 5.0 523.0

1949-50 1950 39.0 137.0 133.0 34.0 109.0 25.0 477.0

1950-51 1951 60.0 66.0 112.0 58.0 53.0 0.0 349.0

1951-52 1952 67.0 156 115.0 105.0 163.0 35.0 641.0

1952-53 1953 44.0 65.0 112.0 40.0 93.0 57.0 411.0

1953-54 1954 50.0 107.0 54.0 57.0 101.0 14.0 383.0

1954-55 1955 37.0 53.0 134.0 129.0 60.0 59.0 472.0

1955-56 1956 86.0 112.0 103.0 72.0 33.0 54.0 460.0

1956-57 1957 36.0 50.0 86.0 41.0 97.0 76.0 386.0

1957-58 1958 74.0 79.5 83.5 131.5 80.0 111.0 559.5

1958-59 1959 38.0 47.5 81.0 107.0 84.5 28.0 386.0

1959-60 1960 22.0 39.5 59.0 155.0 92.0 28.0 395.5

1960-61 1961 75.0 40.0 1.0 62.0 113.0 35.0 326.0

1961-62 1962 46.0 82.5 86.0 110.0 35.0 42.0 401.5

1962-63 1963 31.0 17.0 85.0 39.0 93.0 136.0 401.0

1963-64 1964 55.0 53.0 108.0 68.0 183.0 99.0 566.0

1964-65 1965 95.0 141.0 150.0 66.0 44.0 77.0 573.0

1965-66 1966 69.0 69.0 73.0 103.0 70.0 49.0 433.0

1966-67 1967 53.0 84.0 168.0 72.0 61.0 106.0 544.0

1967-68 1968 22.0 131.0 39.0 84.0 70.0 133.5 479.5

1968-69 1969 87.5 132.6 113.0 148.0 35.0 50.0 566.1

1969-70 1970 56.0 70.0 103.5 60.5 79.0 90.0 459.0

1970-71 1971 79.0 142.0 58.0 73.5 87.0 42.0 481.5

1971-72 1972 64.5 159.0 94.5 45.0 47.0 56.6 466.6

1972-73 1973 ---- 122.0 64.5 77.0 124.0 109.0 496.5

1973-74 1974 90.9 128.2 104.5 91.0 45.0 136.0 595.6

1974-75 1975 25.5 146.5 104.0 88.0 151.0 90.0 605.0

1975-76 1976 94.0 67.0 74.5 69.0 93.0 42.0 439.5

1976-77 1977 13.5 17.0 50.5 73.5 129.0 31.0 314.5

1977-78 1978 53.0 106.5 99.5 92.5 85.0 88.0 524.5

1978-79 1979 62.5 96.0 78.5 86.0 71.0 94.0 588.0

1979-80 1980 79.5 27.0 143.0 112.5 123.0 29.0 514.0

1980-81 1981 40.0 34.0 73.0 82.0 110.0 52.0 391.0

1981-82 1982 47.0 184.0 143.0 85.0 164.0 73.0 696.0

1982-83 1983 66.0 165.0 75.5 68.0 150.0 112.5 637.0

1983-84 1984 143.5 244.5 42.0 104.0 85.0 124.5 743.5

1984-85 1985 112.5 105.0 44.0 61.5 99.5 34.5 457.0

1985-86 1986 132.0 62.0 56.0 112.7 100.0 135.7 599.0

1986-87 1987 73.0 12.3 96.0 73.0 104.0 23.5 381.8

Snowfall at Alta Guard 1945- Present
Annual Report 2005-06 Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center

29 

1987-88 1988 30.0 91.0 105.1 39.75 115.5 29.0 410.3

1988-89 1989 172.5 124.5 70.75 97.5 64.75 52.0 581.5

1989-90 1990 76.0 49.0 107.5 100.5 84.0 31.0 448.0

1990-91 1991 109.5 91.0 82.8 49.7 110.9 136.3 580.2

1991-92 1992 133.4 57.2 41.8 85 50.1 27.5 395.0

1992-93 1993 118.8 119.2 165.3 102.9 63.0 81.2 650.4

1993-94 1994 40.7 64.85 122.7 134.05 47.2 80.8 490.3

1994-95 1995 205.9 73.8 199.7 56.3 128.9 80.7 745.4

1995-96 1996 57 53 187 104 82 79 562

1996-97 1997 78.3 164.8 141.5 91 53.8 69.7 599.1

1997-98 1998 46.3 81.8 128.9 156.6 92.3 69 574.9

1998-99 1999 76.5 43.1 105.3 98 46.5 89 458.4

1999-00 2000 30.0 97.0 100.0 119.5 84.0 15.5 446.0

2000-01 2001 88.0 71.0 66.2 79.5 53.0 112.0 469.7

2001-02 2002 137 86.1 100.9 53.4 142.2 48.1 567.7

2001-03 2003 42 78.7 26 84.1 93.8 74.8 399.4

2003-04 2004 110 151 74.3 130 62 43.5 570.8

2004-05 2005 62.7 86.4 113.5 77.9 153.6 59.5 553.6

2005-06 2006 81 132 148 61.5 135 76 633.5

Average 73.0 92.7 95.3 83.4 91.4 66.0 502.2

Maximum 205.9 244.5 199.7 156.6 183 136.3 745.4

Year of Max 94 83 95 97 64 91 95

Alta Guard Seasonal Snow Totals (Nov 1 through April 30)

300

400

500

600

700

800

1944-451945-461946-471947-481948-491949-501950-511951-521952-531953-541954-551955-561956-571957-581958-591959-601960-611961-621962-631963-641964-651965-661966-671967-681968-691969-701970-711971-721972-731973-741974-751975-761976-771977-781978-791979-801980-811981-821982-831983-841984-851985-861986-871987-881988-891989-901990-911991-921992-931993-941994-951995-961996-971997-981998-991999-002000-012001-022001-032003-042004-052005-06

Aver age
Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center Annual Report 2005-06 

30 

Western Uinta Season Summary 

By Craig Gordon 

Program history: 

The western Uinta avalanche forecasting program, in its fourth season, is made possible through generous 

funding from our partner, the Utah Division of State Parks and Recreation. This year was again a particularly 

busy one for Craig Gordon, the forecaster for the region. Craig forecasts for nearly one million square 

acres of terrain, stretching from Daniels Summit near the town of Heber, Utah to Bear River, near Evanston, Wyoming. Craig likes to refer to this large swath of terrain as the “postage stamp”. 

 

The western Uinta Mountains, located east of Park City are a unique range, running east to west and they 

harbor the highest peaks in the state. Approaches are long and arduous and access to the high terrain is a 

Herculean event for non-motorized users. The bulk of traffic in this region is mostly snowmobilers. Nearly 

60,000 snowmobilers recreate in these mountains each season. 

 

The western Uinta’s are a challenging range to forecast for because of what is considered a continental 

snowpack. In addition, infrequent avalanche observations from users are the norm. As a matter of fact, we 

usually don’t hear about avalanches unless someone has triggered an unusually big slide or there’s a close 

call or fatality. Advisories are issued Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday and all holidays. These products are 

available via the internet or a toll free phone line, provided by Utah State Parks. While there’s no way to 

track call counts, the internet hits increase dramatically each season and this year the site received just over 

10,000 hits to the avalanche advisory. Seventy-one avalanche and mountain weather advisories were issued 

from late November to mid April. 

Craig couldn’t do all of this work plus a grueling avalanche education schedule without the help of some 

very vital partners. Both the Kamas and Evanston Ranger Districts have supported the program by supplying 

him with field partners, snowmobiles, vehicles and support staff when needed. On the Kamas side of the 

range, District Ranger Catherine Kahlow is fully supportive of the program and provides Forest Service personnel to assist Craig in the field. Former forecaster and Alta ski patrolman Dave Ream is the usual suspect 

and Dave is a vital component to the western Uinta program. Over in Evanston, District Ranger Steve Ryberg, Rick Schuler and Ted Scroggin help pick up the slack on the North Slope. Again this year, Ted Scroggin was an enormous asset, getting on the snow at least three times a week and emailing in snow and avalanche observations religiously. In addition, Craig and Ted often consult on the phone several nights a week 

discussing recent avalanche observations and the state of the snowpack. Ted is an integral part of this program and we hope to see him contributing even more in the future by helping out with avalanche education 

and part time forecasting next season. Finally, Ray Santa Maria, Bill Nicholson and staff from the Park City 

Powder Cats were very helpful by providing weather, snowpack and avalanche observations. In addition, 

they help Craig by offering him snowcat access to remote terrain. 

 

In the past four years since the inception of the western Uinta avalanche advisory program, we’ve witnessed 

an increase in basic avalanche awareness among the predominant user group, snowmobilers. Now, the majority of mountain riders wear a beacon, shovel and probe and is at least somewhat aware that an avalanche 

advisory exists. Personal polling numbers reveal an interesting fact- most riders only check the advisory after a major storm. Craig tries to connect with riders by talking to them at trailheads and while out on the 

snow. The public often approaches him, recognizing the customized Utah Avalanche Center sled, to ask 

about the days conditions. It’s a great opportunity to interface with the public and he hopes that over time 

and through increased avalanche outreach education programs, more riders will realize the benefits of being 

fully informed and will wear the right gear and consult the advisory each time they take to the snow. 

Season History: 

By all accounts it was a real winter for a change and the western Uinta Mountains enjoyed the fruits of 

Mother Nature’s labor. Unlike our close neighbors to the west, the Wasatch Range which receives copious 
Annual Report 2005-06 Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center

31 

amounts of snow, once storms reach the western Uinta’s they’ve usually lost a lot of their dynamics and 

moisture and we tend to get the left-overs. The result is a historically weak, dangerous snowpack which is 

usually about half that of our western neighbor. In addition, winds tend to be very strong throughout the 

range. This year however, cold storms consistently dumped manageable amounts of new snow- usually in 

the 8”-12” range- and winds were fairly well behaved, making for a deep, strong and mostly stable snowpack. Seventy-one avalanche and mountain weather advisories were issued, including three avalanche warnings, starting on November 5th and ending April 23rd. Rather than list every weather event to hit the region, 

the following season’s summary highlights both avalanche events and storms of particular interest. 

NovemberThe season started in earnest on November 14th when a double barreled system heralded the start of winter, depositing nearly three feet of snow at the upper elevations over the course of several days. Unfortunately, high pressure took control of the weather pattern and my usual early season nightmare snowpack 

began to develop. Over the course of the next few weeks, the snowpack turned weak and sugary. By 

Thanksgiving we were back in the flow and a vigorous system dumped nearly 18” of dense heavy snow along 

with strong winds. Fortunately, there wasn’t quite enough snow for most riders to really get after it and 

other than a small natural avalanche cycle, there were no human triggered slides reported. 

DecemberDecember started off with a bang as a cold northwest flow settled over the region, dumping close to 30” of 

snow from the 1st through the 4th. In the nearby Park City Area Mountains, whose snowpack often mimics 

the early season Uinta pack, a group of four skiers had a close call, triggering a large hard slab avalanche 

which partially buried all four. Fortunately everyone came out unscathed, but I feared disaster would strike 

the western Uinta Mountains once the storm passed and riders could see where they were going. Two days 

later, six snowmobilers triggered a large hard slab near Wolf Creek Pass, which partially buried all six sleds. 

While details were sketchy and we never figured out exactly what happened, one thing is for sure... lady 

luck was on their side this time. 

The dust settled for the second half of the month as high pressure took control of the regions weather, 

creating weak snow at the surface as well as near the ground. Warm temperatures ushered in the Christmas holidays, allowing the snowpack to gain some much needed strength, though we still weren’t out of the 

woods quite yet. A strong, moist southwest flow developed on the 30th, depositing around 10” of snow with 

a whopping 1 1⁄2” of water, leading to yet another close call on Double Hill in the Whitney Basin. 

JanuaryThe New Year rang in with a vengeance as the Uinta’s got hammered with nearly 3’ of dense, heavy glop 

coupled with strong winds. The combination prompted me to issue the areas first special avalanche statement and a HIGH avalanche danger. The new snows’ wallowing depths kept most riders away from steep 

slopes and a short-lived break in the action was followed by more snow and wind. With storm totals reaching 4’ of snow with a whopping 5”of water, I issued an avalanche warning for the range. Visibility was heinous throughout the storm cycle, but as skies cleared it was apparent much of the area had gone through a 

significant avalanche cycle. Unfortunately, strong winds quickly re-filled in most of the avalanche paths 

shortly after they slid, making recent avalanche spotting an anti-climactic event. Another brief break followed and some weak near surface facets rapidly developed, but a series of Pacific storms started lining up 

nicely for the second half of the month. A consistently wet weather pattern, light to moderate winds and 

warmer temperatures created a strong and mostly homogenous snowpack. As the end of the month drew 

near, you couldn’t ask for a better scenario. Usually we’re tiptoeing around the range looking over our 

shoulders, but these “designer” storms helped keep avalanche activity at bay and the month ended without 

incident. The snowpack got stronger over time allowing riders to get into terrain that in years past 

would’ve been impossible. Bold lines were punched out just about everywhere you looked and I hoped folks 

weren’t getting lulled into a false sense of “snow stability security.” 
Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center Annual Report 2005-06 

32 

FebruaryThe storm pattern changed and February started off quite active with a moist system delivering 2’ of snow 

and strong winds from the 1st through the 4th. This led to a series of medium sized natural avalanches and at 

least one human triggered avalanche we heard of. High pressure dominated the weather pattern through 

the middle of the month and then a series of cold, albeit small storms began to impact the region. Additional 

weight added to the snowpack was modest at best and avalanche conditions remained relatively benign for 

the rest of the month. February ended with little fanfare. 

MarchMarch roared in like a lion with rain, snow and a bit of lightening on the 1st making for a tale of two snowpacks. Up high we were still dealing with a winter snowpack, but at lower elevations, below about 9,500’, 

the pack was rain soaked and punchy. Fortunately, winter’s hiatus was short-lived and cold temperatures 

with a little shot of snow returned on the 2nd and 3rd. Hurricane force winds and 4”of new snow led to an 

unintentional human triggered avalanche on the North Slope on the 3rd. 

By the middle of March, back in a consistent flow, the storm train began bearing down on the state. Strong 

winds and about a foot of snow on the 14th and 15th brought another small, but active avalanche cycle to the 

region. Like much of the season, most of the activity was confined to terrain above treeline. Storms continued to roll in through the end of the month and with the sun growing stronger, we started seeing wet activity at the lower elevations. March came in like a lion and went out with a roar as well. A strong and mild 

system slammed into the area on the 29th. The storm raged through the end of the month, depositing nearly 

2 1⁄2’ of snow at the upper elevations, creating dangerous hard slabs which led me to issue an avalanche 

warning for the range. 

AprilSmall storms continued to affect the area through the 5th. With the storm door wide open, a cold, burley 

Pacific system pounded the area with 30” of January-like powder and strong reminder winter wasn’t quite 

over just yet. Unfortunately, west and northwest winds nuked into the 70’s and 80’s during much of the 

period and the combination led to yet another avalanche warning and HIGH avalanche danger for the 

region. Spring is an interesting time of year in the mountains- one day it’s dumping 3” an hour... the next 

day the storm is in Kansas and the sun is shining. While many big slopes avalanched during the storm, 

crowns were barely visible in the wake of this energetic system. Within about 36 hours, warm temperatures helped the avalanche danger rapidly subside and the snowpack quickly adjusted to the added weight. 

However, cloud cover and marginal refreezes, especially at lower elevations, hampered the snowpack from 

going through a good melt-freeze cycle leading to an unintentionally snowmobile triggered slide at about 

9,000’ near the Soap Stone Basin. 

Historically the money begins to run out right around Easter and this year was no exemption. I ended my 

regularly scheduled forecasts on the 16th, followed by a general avalanche information statement posted on 

the 23rd which gives users some tips and weather website links to assist them while there’s no advisory 

available. 

Season Highlights: 

For years, Craig has tried to partner with one of the four major snowmobile manufacturers to help provide 

a sled for avalanche forecasting. Unfortunately it took the avalanche death of a very popular rider last season before anyone stepped up to the plate. Instrumental in helping Craig get a machine was Doug Page and 

other board members from the Utah Snowmobile Association (USA). In the past seven years, Craig has developed a fruitful relationship with the USA. They’ve been a strong partner with the avalanche center helping to fund avalanche placemats, phone stickers, weather station installation and applying for an ISMA grant 

for the development of “Know Before You Go.” Doug took the task at hand and courted a relationship 
Annual Report 2005-06 Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center

33 

with Polaris Industries and a local snowmobile shop, Tri-City Performance of Centerville, Utah. Mike 

Poulsen of Tri-City supplied Craig with a 2006 Polaris RMK 600. This graphics customized ride was a oneof-a-kind mountain sled and its easily identifiable avalanche center markings made it and Craig stand out like 

no other. The benefits of riding a state-of-the-art sled are immeasurable. Interfacing with other riders to 

spread the avalanche gospel is a lot easier when you’re riding a hot machine that gets noticed. The USA is a 

very valued partner and we’re proud to be associated with them as we continue to work together getting 

the avalanche message out to a rapidly growing user group. In addition, we’d like to thank Tri-City and Polaris for partnering with us, showing a true commitment of safety to their fellow riders. 

Weather Instrumentation: 

Avalanche forecasting in a remote region has its benefits and drawbacks. On the plus side, there are places 

in the Uinta Mountains where my partners and I have made many first winter ski descents on slopes that 

are only accessible by snowmobile. The flip side is the remoteness of the region combined with the lack of 

hard weather data allows for few real-time weather, snow or avalanche observations. While the area has 

several snotel data sites, current reliable weather and particularly wind data are nearly non-existent, further 

challenging Craig’s forecasting duties. Two seasons ago, Craig was able to obtain a grant which in turn 

helped to purchase a used weather station. The first season saw its share of minor calamities but no major 

disasters occurred and the station ran rather smoothly. This past fall with the generous support of the 

Evanston Ranger District who supplied a staff of Forest Service sherpas, we again hauled the instrumentation up to Moffit Peak for what was to become the annual fall installation. A few minor glitches, including a 

late in the game discovery that one of the data loggers was fried, tested our patience, but we were able to 

get over it. However, the biggest realization after the second year was recognizing the site didn’t give us the 

representative wind data we needed. This coming season we’ll move this weather instrumentation to a 

more representative site in addition to adding two more wind sites to cover the central and southern parts 

of the range. 

Beacon Basin: 

This season allowed the continued partnership between the western Uinta avalanche program and Back 

Country Access (BCA). For the second winter in a row we installed a semi- permanent avalanche beacon 

training facility exclusively for snowmobilers. “Beacon Basin” located at the Nobletts trailhead, is about 14 

miles east of the town of Francis. The parking at this trailhead is free and on a sunny weekend with fresh 

snow, vehicles not only pack the parking lot, they also string for a mile or so down the shoulder of the highway. On a busy weekend day it’s not unusual for there to be close to 200 rigs, equating to 400-600 sledders 

parking at this trailhead. 

 

Bruce Edgerly, BCA’s Marketing Vice President, has been very instrumental in continued avalanche education for all user groups and this hands-on facility is a huge asset to the avalanche center and the snowmobile 

community alike. Once again this winter, several members from the USA supported the project by donating 

their time and back muscles to bury the locators. 

 

The site is within walking distance of the parking lot and is well received. On busy days, 20-30 riders would 

visit the area either before or after their rides. In addition, it provides a great training site when Craig 

teaches “on snow” avalanche awareness clinics. Beacon Basin was utilized by a wide variety of people including private groups, snowmobile clubs, and state and federal agencies. We look forward to yet another upcoming season, employing this facility at the same popular location. 

 
Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center Annual Report 2005-06 

34 

Logan Mountains Season Summary 

By Toby Weed 

Powder connoisseurs lucky enough to taste the regional backcountry offerings will look back on this season 

as a first rate vintage; that is, with fond memories and insuppressible grins. Throughout the season, frequently recurring storms dumped amazingly incremental loads of snow on the region without significant 

breaks in the moist and warm weather pattern. Strong high pressure systems did not develop over the 

area, and the city of Logan was completely spared from the hated winter temperature inversions that often 

afflict Cache Valley with stagnate and smoggy air for weeks at a time. Snow fell every few days like clockwork, and it piled up deeply in most avalanche starting zones, insulating the basal layers and preventing 

depth hoar development. With only incremental loading and since depth hoar and other persistent weak 

layers generally form under high pressure conditions, our snowpack remained mostly stable throughout the 

season, with only a few exceptions. As I write this in late April, the Tony Grove Snotel site at 8400’ in the 

heart or Bear River Range reports over 9 feet of total snow on the ground containing almost 56 inches of 

water equivalency weight. This puts us at 155 percent of the average for the date. 

Snow began to pile up at higher elevations in early November, and crowds of eager powder hounds made 

their annual pilgrimage up the un-maintained Tony Grove Road to the easily accessed smooth and grassy 

slopes south of the lake. I put out an early season advisory on the 6th. On the 13th after a particularly productive snowstorm, a lucky snowboarder without proper backcountry equipment or avalanche knowledge, 

dropped into a 42-degree chute atop a steep bowl called “Ski Hill” triggering a 350’-wide by 1-2’ deep new 

snow avalanche and taking a short ride. I presented two well-attended free Avalanche Awareness talks at 

the Logan Ranger District Offices, and did a half-hour interview on Utah Public Radio KUSU, which enjoys 

statewide coverage.

 

By the first of December, warmth had solidified the base layer of the snowpack, with the Tony Grove 

Snotel reporting only 7” of total snow containing 6” of SWE (snow water equivalent). The Friends of the 

Utah Avalanche Center-Logan held their second annual fundraiser bash on the 4th, and it was once again a 

big success, raising community support and some much needed cash. We gave a 3-day Level 1 (rescue) 

class for the Cache County Search and Rescue team starting with a 3 hr. classroom-review session on the 

7th, which drew over thirty participants. We teamed up with the Utah State University Outdoor Recreation 

Center to present a Beacon Workshop and a 2-day Basic Avalanche Class. Each drew around 15 participants. In December we observed spotty natural avalanches associated with regular snowstorms on the 4th, 

20th, and 27th. On New Year’s Eve, part time forecaster Dave Kikkert tied into a rope, sawed through a big 

cornice and triggered a 30’ wide and 1-2’ deep soft slab in the Hell’s Kitchen running on faceted snow. 

Shortly afterward, a backcountry skier on a nearby slope, who was unaware of Dave’s successful slope-test, 

unintentionally triggered a similar slide and barely managed to escape taking a ride. 

On the first day of 2006, there was 89 inches on the ground at Tony Grove with 23 inches of SWE. The 

Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center issued an Avalanche Warning for all the mountains of northern Utah 

on the afternoon of January 2nd effective through 11:00 January 3rd... The warning stated, "Heavy snowfall 

and very high winds have caused a HIGH avalanche danger on numerous slopes in all the mountains of 

northern Utah." On the 3rd, widespread natural hard and soft slab avalanches occurred in the region, and a 

couple of these were quite large. On the 4th, I examined the aftermath of one the most impressive avalanches I have ever seen in Pine Canyon in the way-steep Wellsville Range. The huge, full-width hard slab 

pulled out right at the ridge line and careened 3000 vertical feet down the twisting canyon-bottom, toppling 

huge pine trees and forming 1⁄2-mile-long serpentine rock and tree embedded ice walls in route to its terminus, less than two hundred vertical feet from the National Forest Boundary. In January we documented a 

total of 14 days with avalanches occurring. Thankfully, the rest of the month’s avalanches were much 

smaller—most in the 1’ deep range. Of these, we know of 4 unintentionally human-triggered slides, these 

fairly evenly divided between user groups: two snowmobilers, a snowboarder, and a skier. Due to a lack of 
Annual Report 2005-06 Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center

35 

interest the USU ORC cancelled two multi-day avalanche classes, which we had agreed to help teach. In 

retrospect, the ORC feels the $130.00 fee was too expensive for the average college student. Of coarse, 

we offered our instructional services free of charge. 

On February 1st, the Tony Grove Snotel site reported almost 12 feet of snow on the ground containing 

nearly 39” of water equivalent. In the first week of February we documented large natural hard slab avalanches in Pine Canyon and Castle Rock (near Naomi Peak), which were repeaters of previous slides in 

these same paths. Avalanches occurred on 8 days in the month, and 4 slides are listed as unintentionally 

triggered: two triggered by skiers and two by snowmobilers. We cancelled two free Avalanche Awareness 

talks (offered through local backcountry ski and snowboard shops), and the ORC cancelled a 3-day 2-night 

yurt-based advanced class due to lack of interest. It appeared that the small community of Logan had 

reached the saturation point in avalanche education. But on the 25th, 15 members of the USU College of 

Natural Resources Student Council packed a small University lecture hall for a free Awareness Talk, which 

cheered me up greatly and breathed some new life into our outreach efforts. On February 28th, heavy rain 

fell even at high elevations, and large natural wet loose avalanches ensued. One hit highway 89 in Logan 

Canyon at around midday, crossing both lanes of the busy road and forcing a couple-hour closure. The rain 

also created an easy-to-identify crust layer across the region. In the Wellsville Range this layer and associated facets became a persistent weakness and sliding surface for several big springtime natural avalanches. 

122” of snow with 47” of water sat on the ground at Tony Grove on March 1st. Dave spent a long day at 

Ellis Elementary School giving a modified Know Before You Go Awareness Talk to about 130 6th graders. 

Regional avalanches occurred on 12 days in March, with two dangerous human triggered avalanche situations. On the 3rd, a snowmobiler triggered a sizable hard slab on the North Face of Providence Peak. The 

incident wasn’t reported, but tracks leading into and out of the large debris pile told the amazing escape 

story. March 21st was another of the “all time best ever powder days” in the region, and I was enjoying the 

fine conditions in the rare company of my only brother and a favorite backcountry partner. High above the 

upper reaches of White Pine Canyon, the crown jewel of the Bear River Range, a wily old mountain goat fell 

prey to a momentary lapse of good decision making on the steep and craggy East Face of Gog. I’d rated the 

avalanche danger as Moderate, with slab avalanches possible on steep upper elevation slopes, just like one 

we were on. But, as the third skier to descend the steep entry gully on the main part of the face, I didn’t 

expect to actually trigger a slide. As I popped through the narrow neck of the chute and onto the steep 

slope below I noticed, in the very limits of my peripheral vision, the slab breaking apart across the slope 

above and to my left. Instinctively and without a thought, I skied off the moving mass while yelling AVALANCHE! I watched, overcome by an indescribable helpless terror, as the slide ran within feet next my 

nervous partners who were waiting below on a tiny dividing rib above a hundred-foot-cliff holding desperately to the flagged lower branches of a precariously perched alpine fir. Although we faced the wrath of our 

families for our late return, we’d escaped the dangerous situation unscathed. But even as an experienced 

old goat, I’d learned a valuable lesson about responsible decision-making in the mountains when under the 

influence of powder fever—and I’d confidently thought, after all these years of surviving in avalanche terrain, 

that I was immune. In the Wellsville Range, large natural hard slab avalanches running on the February 28th

rain-crust occurred on the 19th or 20th in Shumway Canyon and on the 29th in Gibson Canyon. 

On April Fool’s Day the Tony Grove Snotel reported an incredible 13 feet (132 inches) of total snow with 

56 inches of snow water equivalent. Cornices are far bigger this year than I’ve seen in the past four years of 

my appointment, and bigger than in a long while by the accounts of hardened locals. By April 16th, we documented 4 more days with avalanche occurrences. On the 6th, near the end of a productive and windy storm, 

a very wide new snow hard slab avalanche spontaneously released below a cliff band just north of Naomi 

Peak, the sub-10,000’ high point in the Bear River Range. The 1200’ wide avalanche piled chunky debris on 

a bench after running a maximum of 250 vertical feet. On the same day in the Wellsville Range, cornice fall 

triggered a large hard slab, running on the now familiar February 28th rain-crust, in Old Logway Canyon. 

The approximately 4’ deep and 400’ wide slab gouged down into saturated snow and built a tremendous 

cement-like pile on Maple Bench after running about 2500 vertical feet down a twisting collection gully. 
Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center Annual Report 2005-06 

36 

Through mist and lifting rain-clouds, we observed numerous and significant loose wet avalanches throughout 

the region. On the 16th, the last in a string of very warm days and nights with well above freezing temperatures, I posted the last regularly scheduled advisory, rating the danger of wet avalanches as Considerable. In 

the Wellsville Range, a large cornice fall triggered a deep wet slab in the upper North Fork of Shumway 

Canyon. Rapid melting in the past few days and the now exposed dry ground in the recent bed surface indicates the ~450’ wide avalanche probably stepped down to a deeply buried saturated early season basal 

layer. 

 

This season set the standard for fine powder conditions in the regional backcountry, and it’ll be a hard one 

to top. Although we suffered from a mid-season bout of waning interest in backcountry safety, our education efforts were again fairly successful with slightly under 250 people attending our prepared programs and 

hundreds of people (mostly snowmobilers) directly contacted in the field and at regional trailheads. I 

posted 4 regularly scheduled advisories a week for December and January on Tuesday and Thursday nights 

and Saturday and Sunday nights. With the part-time help of Dave Kikkert (paid for by the Friends of UAC 

Logan), we were able to add Mondays, and we posted 5 a week through April We documented 43 days 

with avalanche occurrences, and 22 human triggered avalanches. Of these we consider 11 as unintentionally 

triggered. Once again, this year the good people of our pastoral Cache Valley appear to be blessed by divine luck, and no one was buried, injured, or killed, and no reported property damage occurred. 
Annual Report 2005-06 Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center

37 

Avalanche Incidents and Accidents: 

The number of accidents and fatalities in the Wasatch for the 05/06 season is significantly lower than last 

year, despite similar snow totals. Despite the fact that snow totals are in the same ballpark, the character 

of both the snowpack and storms was very different. As they say, the devil’s in the details. The generally 

warm temperatures, high frequency of storms, and absence of long periods of high pressure produced what 

we term a “maritime”, or “coastal” snowpack, rather than a “continental” one. This, by and large, minimized the development of very persistent weaknesses within the snowpack, allowing the instabilities to settle out relatively quickly. This was one factor that contributed to a year with below normal number of 

near-misses, incidents, and fatalities. Accounting for three of the nation’s twenty-three fatalities, we recorded seventy six unintentionally triggered slides in which 45 were caught and carried, resulting in 17 partial burials, and 8 injuries. The following is a synopsis of the major accidents for the winter. 

Four Skiers Caught and Partially Buried in No-Name Bowl along the Park City Ridgeline

Minimal early season snows contributed to a poor existing snowpack by the time the heavy storms hit in 

late November/early December. The Park City ridgeline is notorious for having a weaker basal and midpack than the adjacent terrain of the tri-Canyons. In this case, 40-50’ of snow had fallen in the few days 

preceding the accident, producing very unstable conditions where both natural and human triggered activity 

accompanied the deluge. The party of four had a collective 30 years of backcountry skiing experience, knew 

the terrain well, and frequently called the avalanche center’s forecast. 

No-Name Bowl is a steep 38 degree northeast facing slope with a starting zone at 9200’. The strong winds 

had produced a cohesive hard slab over the weak sugary snow, producing very tricky, very dangerous avalanche conditions. Unless someone in the party digs down to check the layering, this snowpack regime will 

only inconsistently give what we call “bullseye” information regarding its instability. Had slabs will often allow multiple skiers on the slope or allow a person half-way down the slope before releasing. Ski cuts and 

cornice drops rarely provide good information, and are very dangerous to execute with type of early season 

layering. 

The party skied one at a time through the terrain for two laps. On the third lap, the first three skied the 

bowl without incident and waited for the fourth skier to make his run. A few turns into it, he triggered the 

entire bowl wall to wall, engulfing him and his partners down below. All were buried to some extent and 

two suffered some injuries. Most would assume that eleven tracks on a slope would offer good news regarding stability. In this case, it was not a good indicator. Good habits save lives. While the party followed 

some critical rules of safe travel, they did not move out of the runout zone at the bottom in the event of an 

avalanche from above. This near miss could have resulted in four fatalities. 

Two Snowshoers Caught in an Avalanche Above Aspen Grove on Timpanogos, One Fatality 

A warm and windy storm that dropped 45” of snow in the higher terrain preceded this incident. Two very 

fit snowshoers left the Aspen Grove parking lot early morning on the last day of 2005, bound for the 

11,749’ summit of Timpanogos in the Provo mountains. After gaining 2500’ in elevation, the two likely triggered the new wind drift on a 35-40 degree east to northeast facing slope at 9700’. One of the two men 

was completely buried. The other extricated himself, searched the debris the best he could without rescue 

equipment and called on his cell-phone for help. Teams were assembled, only to be called off due to deteriorating weather and avalanche conditions. The next day, observers noted numerous natural avalanches 

that had occurred the preceding day; other avalanches released with protective explosive use on adjacent 

slopes as well. The forecast office rated the danger that day as Considerable, with an increasing hazard. 

The incident is not unlike the twin fatalities occurring the year before in Mineral Fork of Big Cottonwood 

Canyon. 
Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center Annual Report 2005-06 

38 

34 Year Old Man Killed in Avalanche in the Backcountry Adjacent to Snowbasin Mountain 

Resort

Twenty to thirty inches of snow had fallen in the week preceding the incident. On the 11th, two good 

friends who routinely ride both inbounds and out-of-bounds at Snowbasin made the decision to ride outside 

the northwestern boundary of the resort into what is known as the Taylor Canyon area. While it is unknown whether the two knew of the avalanche center’s warnings of freshly blown unstable wind drifts in 

upper elevation terrain, it is known that the two were not equipped with any rescue gear. Both entered 

the upper starting zone, triggering the hard slab on a 40 degree northwest facing slope at 8900’. The slab 

was estimated at 2’ deep and 200’ wide, running 1000’ vertical. The victim was carried some way down the 

slope before slamming into a tree and becoming fully buried. The survivor searched for some time before 

alerting the Snowbasin ski patrol and the Sheriff’s department. Deteriorating weather and avalanche conditions precluded an immediate search. Search dogs found the victim the following day. 

27 Year Old Man Dies After Falling Through a Cornice in the Backcountry Adjacent to 

Brighton Resort

Heavy snow and winds up until the accident had built large and unstable cornices along the high ridges in the 

mountainous terrain of the Wasatch. Three parties had close calls earlier in the week, with two skiers in 

separate incidents collapsing the cornice and riding the “boxcar’ half way down the slopes below. Despite 

the fact that the forecast center had warned folks to give cornices a wide berth, the victim that morning 

traveled onto a cornice that had recent footsteps crossing it. Likely thinking nothing of it, and eager to follow a broken trail rather than create his own, he followed onto the lip of the cornice. His friend watched 

as the lip broke behind the victim dropping him and the boxcar onto the steep rocky slope below. The 

sheer impact released a hard slab avalanche 1-2’ deep and 50’ wide. It ran 500’, burying the victim in a debris pile up to 4-5’ deep. The area along the Pioneer ridge was a 40 degree northeast facing slope at 10,300’ 

in elevation. 

The two snowboarders did own rescue gear but did not carry it with them that day because they did not 

intend on leaving the resort boundaries, a situation eerily similar to last year’s accident in Dutch Draw, adjacent to the Canyons Resort. 

Very steep terrain on the left third 

of the photo is where one snowshoer was buried and was not recovered until spring.. Primrose 

Cirque, Mt. Timpanogos, Provo 

area mountains 
Annual Report 2005-06 Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center

39 

A backcountry skier took a long ride in a wind slab he triggered near the summit of Box Elder Peak. 

Miraculously, he was not buried or injured but lost some equipment. 

The fracture line from the hard wind slab triggered by a skier on Box Elder Peak. 
Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center Annual Report 2005-06 

40 

U.S. Avalanche Fatalities 1950-2006

0

5

10

15

2 0

2 5

3 0

3 5

4 0

Winter

5-Year M oving Average 

U.S. Avalanche Fatalities by Decade

0

5

10

15

2 0

2 5

3 0

3 5

4 0

4 5

50's 60's 70's 80's 90's 00's

Decade

C limbers

B ackco untry 

Skiers

Sno wmo bilers

Sno wbo arders

Ski A rea Skiers

U.S. Avalanche Fatalities by State 1995-2006

(N = 278)

AK

19%

CO

19%

M T

15% ID

9%

WY

WA 9 %

9 %

O R

0 %

UT

15 %

N Y

0 %

NV

1%

AZ

0%

CA

3%

NH

1% NM

0%
Annual Report 2005-06 Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center

41 

86.7

43.2

18.5

6.7 3.8

0.0

10.0

20.0

30.0

40.0

50.0

60.0

70.0

80.0

90.0

Triggered Caught Partly Buried Totally Buried Killed

Avalanche Incidents in Utah (past 10 years)

U.S. Avalanche Fatalities by Activity

Past 5 Seasons - Ending 2006

139 Total Fatalities

Snow boarders

16%

M isc Recreation

9%

Clim bers

8%

Patrollers

0%

Snow m obilers

41%

M otorists/Highw a

y w orkers

0%

Residents

2%

Skiers

23%

Others at Work

1%

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

1985198619871988198919901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006

Year

Reported Unintentional Hum an Triggered Avalanches in the Backcountry

(We estim ate that only 65% of the slides get reported)
Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center Annual Report 2005-06 

42 

Date Region Location Avalanche 

Type Trigger Elevation (feet) Aspect Steepness Depth Width (feet)

Vertical 

(feet)

Weak 

Layer Caught Carried Injured Fatality Part/Full 

Burial Comments

4-16-06 SLC Mary Ellen Soft Slab Snowmobile 10,000 N 1.5' 200 500 Wind Slab 1 1 1 Snowmoibler triggered wind slab and was buried to

waist - damaged sled

4-15-06 SLC Little Superior Wet sluff Skier 10,200' South 1500' damp 

snow

4-8-06 SLC Red Baldy Wet sluff Skier 10,800' ESE 45+ 4" 40' 400' damp 

snow 1 1

4-6-06 SLC Emma's (above 

Alta) Soft Slab Skier 9,800' S 35 5-10" 150-200' 1000' new snow Sympathetically released from 200' away.

4-3-06 SLC Pioneer Ridge Soft Slab Snowboarder 10,300' NNE 40 10-24" 100' 500' 1111 1 Snowboarder had a cornice break under him which

triggered a slab, caught, carried, killed.

4-3-06 SLC Square Top Cornice Fall Skier 9800' NE Skiers accidently broke a very large cornice, only a

small portion released.

4-2-06 SLC Jaws into Days Cornice Skier 10k N 111 Skier caught on wrong end of cornice fall.

4-2-06 SLC Patsy Marley Wet sluff Skier 9600' West 40' 1 1 1 Carried 150'

4-2-06 SLC Banana Days Soft slab Skier 10,300' NE 1' 60' 160' wind slab 1 1 1

4-2-06 SLC Cardiac Ridge Soft slab Skier 10,400' NE 40+ 1' 150' 1500' wind slab 1 1 1

4-1-06 SLC Maybird Aprons Soft slab Skier 9400' N 1' 100' 150' Wind slab

3-30-06 SLC Upper Days Cornice/soft 

slab Skier 10k North Wind slab 1 1 Skier caught on wrong end of cornice fall.

3-27-06 SLC Banana Days Soft slab Skier 9400' NE 12" 30' Wind slab 111 Slab broke out on steep rollover way down the 

slope.

3-27-06 SLC Upper Days Soft slab Skier 10k N 12" 50' Wind slab 1 1

3-27-06 SLC God's 

Lawnmower Hard slab Skier 9800' N 50 12" 100' 300' Wind slab 111 1 Broke 30' above skier, lost gear, minor injuries.

3-22-06 SLC Coal Pit Gulch Soft Slab Skier near 

11,000 N 36 10" 40 Wind slab Wind slab surprised skier but he did not go for a 

ride.

3-22-06 SLC Cardiff Fork Soft Slab Skiers 10,500-

11,000

NW & 

NE 35+ 12-18" 40-100' 400-800 facets 1 1

At least 3 skier triggered wind slabs with one skier 

taking a ride after triggering hang fire above a 

previously released slide.

3-12-06 Provo

above Aspen

Grove/Ant 

Knolls

Loose Skier 8000' East 40+ 250' new snow 1 1 skier carried 75 yards

3-12-06 SLC Brighton BC Soft slab Skier 9500' SW 35 1' 15' Wind slab Broke mid-slope

3-11-06 SLC Silver Lake Hard Slab Skier 9000' E 18" 70' 300' possibly 

facets 1 1 broke 50' above skier

3-11-06 SLC Raymond Soft/slab Skier 10,100' N 18" wind slab 1 1 arrested into bed surface to avoid going over 

cliffband.

3-11-06 Ogden Snowbasin 

Backcountry Hard slab Snowboarder 9400' NW 40+ 1-2' 150' wind slab 1111 1 Snowboarder caught out of bounds, carried short distance, 

killed from trauma. 

3-9-06 SLC Superior Pk. Soft slab Skiers 10,500 S 40 New snow Skiers triggered sluff/slab that came within 500' or

LCC highway below.

3-9-06 SLC Reynolds Pk. Soft Slab Skiers 9,000 S 43 1-2' 150 800 new snow Skiers triggered sizable soft slab, not caught

3-5-05 SLC Pfeifferhorn/ 

Hogum Soft Slab Skierremote 10,250 NW 18" 80' 300' facets Large collapse, broke 40' below party on skin 

track.

3-1-06 SLC Mill B South Soft Slab Skier 10,400 N 35 1' 150 300 Facets 1 1

Skiers were checking out adjacent slide from 

yesterday. One was caught and rode short 

distance to bottom. No injuries

2-27-06 SLC Big Cottonwood Soft slab skier Wind slab Skier heading for Dromedary triggered a few fresh 

wind slabs

2-27-06 Provo Bear Claw/ 

Finger Chutes Soft slab skier 9,000' NE 6-8" 50' 1,000' Wind slab 2nd skier triggered slab but was able to ski out 

before getting caught.

2-26-06 SLC Superior wet loose Skier 10,000' S 40 4-6" 40' 1000' Too-late skier parties triggering saturated snow

2-22-06 SLC Snake Creek Soft Slab Skier 9,700 E-S 42 1' 150 Wind slab 1 1 Skiers triggered 6 different avalanches, skier took 

short ride in one with no injuries

2-20-06 Ogden Ben Lomond Loose Skier 8600' N 10" New snow 1 1 Skier rode 80'

2-17-06 SLC East Bowl, 

Silver Fork Hard Slab Skier 10,000' North 1' 60' 300' Unknown Broke 10' above skier

2-11-06 SLC Mill B South Hard Slab Skier 9600' N 6" 30' facets Broke 10' above skier

2-11-06 SLC Broad's Fork Hard Slab Skier 10,800' N 40 8" 40' facets

2-11-06 SLC Little Superior Hard Slab Skier 10,400' N 45 1' 45' 300' facets 442 4 Four people traversing under cliffband triggered, 

caught, partially buried. Minor injuries.

2-11-06 Provo Box Elder Hard Slab Skier 10,800 NE 45 1-2' 200' 1500' facets 111 Third skier rode 1500', sympathetic'd out adjacent 

hard slab skier's left. Minor injuries.

2-7-06 SLC Monte Cristo Slab

Skier 

Triggered 

Cornice

11,100 SE 1500' facets 1 1

Skier triggered cornice fall tirggered a slab. One 

person on slope below was caught, carried a short 

distance, but stopped as slide continued. 

2-4-06 SLC LCC & BCC Soft Slab Skiers & 

Naturals 9-10,000' N & NE 6-10" 50-150' 150-400' Numerous sensitive soft slabs were released after 

they formed early Saturday.

2-4 Logan Garden City Soft Slab Skierremote mid-low SE 12-20" 150' 600' facets triggered from 50' away

2-2-06 SLC Near Mule 

Hollow Soft Slab Skier S 12" 50' 150' Slide ran on a sun crust.

2-2-06 SLC Kessler Soft Slab Skier 10,000' N 40 8-10" 50' 1000' Wind load 1 1 Skier caught, carried short distance but stopped as

slide continued.

2-1-06 SLC Days Fork Soft Slab skier 9,800 N 40 1.5 20 400 Wind slab Skier dug into bed surface to keep from going 

down - very wind loaded slope

1-30-06 Ogden

Bridge Canyon 

near North 

Ogden Pass

Soft slab Skier 7,000' NE 33-35 20" 200' 800' Surface 

Hoar 1 1 Skier triggered, caught, carried but got out before 

taking 800' ride into a terrain trap.

1-29-06 SLC Beartrap Soft slab Skierremote 9800' South 1-2' 75' 300' facets

1-28-06 Provo Timpanogos Soft slab SnowShoer South 12" 80' 300' Snowshoer caught and carried a short distance 

after triggering wind slab.

1-28-06 SLC Upper BCC Soft slab Skier 10,700' N 8-10" 70' Probably 

facets Broke above skier

1-28-06 SLC Upper Mill B 

North Soft slab Skier ? N 1' 80' Probably facets Broke 80' above skier

Unintentionally triggered avalanches - Wasatch and Uinta Mountains 2005-06
Annual Report 2005-06 Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center

43 

Date Region Location Avalanche 

Type Trigger Elevation (feet) Aspect Steepness Depth Width (feet)

Vertical 

(feet)

Weak 

Layer Caught Carried Injured Fatality Part/Full 

Burial Comments

1-28-06 SLC Y Couloir Loose Skier 7200' N new snow

1-23-06 SLC Mary Ellen Soft Slab Skier 10,200' S 40+ 12-18" 40-50' 400' Radiation Recrystallized? 1 1 Skier caught, carried, O.K. Broke ski binding.

1-23-06 SLC Near Cardiff 

Peak Soft Slab Skier S ? Wind Slab 1 1 Skier caught and carried. Stopped before going off

a cliff band.

1-20-06 SLC Raymond Soft slab Skier 10,200' E 40+ 1' 40' New snow 1 1 Skier took a ride.

1-13-06 SLC Superior Loose skier E? 35+ 1 1 Caught, carried, OK.

1-13-06 SLC White Pine Soft Slab Skier SE 35+ 6-8" 50' 200' Caught, carried, OK. Ran on sun/wind crust.

1-12-06 SLC Toledo Chute Soft Slab Skier 10,000 SE 40 6-8" 30-40' No details other then this was skier triggered.

1-12-06 SLC Wolverine Peak Soft Slab Skier 10,200 S 38 12" 100' 300 Wind Slab 1 1 Skier appeared to be off guard when he triggered 

this slide. Probably took a ride.

1-10-2006 SLC Tuscarora Soft Slab Skier 10,300 NE 40 2 500 1 Skier triggered and caught, self-arrested, lost skis 

but OK

1-5-06 SLC Tuscarora Soft Slab Skier or 

boarder 10,000' E 40+ 1-2' Broke on third slope cut

12-31-05 Provo Timpanogos Soft slab Skier 8500' E 18" 100' rain crust

12-31-05 Provo Timpanogos Hard slab Skier 9,800 NE 2' 150' 1 1 1 1 1 MISSING SNOWSHOER

12-31-05 SLC Flagstaff Soft slab Skier 9700' SE 18" 70' 600' new snow

12-31-05 SLC Days' 

FK/Crystal P. Soft slab Skier 9800' NE 1' 75' new snow Triggered three slides

12-31-05 SLC Brighton BC Soft slab Skier 10,000' NE 38 1' 200' new snow Three slides triggered down low on slope

12-15-05 SLC Toledo Chute 

(LCC) Hard slab Skier 10,000 SE 40 2-6" 75 100 facets Skier ski cut small wind slab in steep, rocky area - not caught

12-13-05 Provo Chablis Hard slab Skier 9,500' E 37 14" 30' 200' Wind 

slab 1 1 Broke 10' above skier, caught, grabbed tree.

12-4-05 SLC Clayton Peak Hard slab Sympathetic 10,500' ENE 2-5' 300' facets sympathetic to control work at Brighton

12-4-05 SLC 10,420' Hard slab remote 

to skier 10,200' NE 3-4' 100' facets remotely triggered 300' away

12-4-05 SLC Pink Pine 

ridge Hard slab remote to skier 9300' NE 4-6' 80' facets 1 skier caught, able to hold onto tree

12-3-05 Uintas Bald Mtn Hard Slab snowmobile 9500' E 4-6' 500' facets

12-3-05 PC No Name bowl Hard Slab skier 9800' NNE 3-5' 500' facets 4 4 4 Skier caught, carried, engulfing three other skiers 

below. No injuries. 4 partial burials.

12-2-05 SLC Cottonwoods Slab skier above 

9800' NW? 35+ 2-3' 30' 200' facets 11 1 Caught, carried, partially buried, OK

12-2-05 SLC 10,420' Slab remote 

to skier 9400' NE 35+ 2-4' 50' 150' facets Triggered remotely from about 200' away.

12-1-05 SLC Toledo Chute Wind Slab Skier 10,000' NE 40 18" 30-40' 500 new 

snow 1 1

After triggering a smaller slab higher in the chute, 

skier was caught, carried, & uninjured by another 

slab.

12-1-05 SLC Grizzly Gulch Soft Slab Skier 9,500' NW 44 1-2' 35-45' 75' facets 1 1

Slab broke above skier, caught and carried, was 

able to ski off before being buried in gullied terrain

trap.

12-1-05 SLC Rocky Point Wind Slab Skier 10,300' NE 35+ 1-3' 40 300 new 

snow 1 1 Cornice Broke and skier fell onto fracturing slab, 

went for a ride, ended on surface uninjured.

12-1-05 SLC Rocky Point Wind Slab Sympathetic 10,300' NE 35+ 12"-24" 100-150' 300' new 

snow

Slide broke sympathetically to human triggered 

described above.

12-1-05 SLC Rocky Point Wind Slab Cornice 10,200' NE 35+ 12"-18" 30-40' 250' new snow Skiers kicked a cornice which released a soft slab 

below it.

11-30-05 Ogden Ogden Hard Slab snowcat 9200' E 4' 400' 400' Heavily wind loaded

11-14-05 SLC High Rustler, 

Alta Wind Slab Skier 9,800' N 38 20" 18' 200' new 

snow 1 1 Caught, carried 25', got out to side.

Unintentionally triggered avalanches - Wasatch and Uinta Mountains 2005-06
Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center Annual Report 2005-06 

44 

Date

Male 

Deaths 

Female 

Deaths Location Activity Skier Climber

Snow

boarder

Snow

mobiler

Other 

Recreation Worker Resident

9-Mar-58 2 Snowbasin Rescuer 2

29-Mar-64 1 Snowbasin Worker 1

31-Dec-65 1 Park City In-bounds skier 1

12-Feb-67 2 Pharoah’s Glen Climbers 2

19-Feb-68 1 Rock Canyon Hiker 1

29-Jan-70 1 Alta In-bounds skier 1

29-Jan-73 1 Park West In-bounds skier 1

6-Jan-76 1 Alta Out of bounds skier 1

3-Mar-77 1 Snowbird In-bounds skier 1

19-Jan-79 1 Helper Worker 1

2-Apr-79 1 Lake Desolation Backcountry skier 1

11-Jan-80 1 Evergreen Ridge Out of bounds skier 1

1-Feb-81 1 Cardiff Hiker 1

1-Mar-81 1 Millcreek Backcountry skier 1

22-Mar-82 1 near Park West Backcountry skier 1

2-Jan-84 1 Superior Peak Backcountry skier 1

22-Feb-85 1 Near Powder Mountain Backcountry skier 1

19-Mar-85 1 Park City In-bounds wet slide 1

13-Nov-85 2 Sunset Peak Backcountry skiers 2

6-Jan-86 1 Provo Canyon Backcountry skier 1

17-Feb-86 1 Big Cottonwood Canyon Backcountry snowboarder 1

19-Feb-86 1 Alta In bounds skier 1

20-Nov-86 1 Sugarloaf, Alta Hiker in unopened area 1

15-Feb-87 1 Twin Lakes Reservoir Backcountry skier 1

25-Nov-89 1 Tony Grove Lake, Logan Backcountry skier 1

12-Feb-92 3 1 Gold Basin, La Sal Mtns Backcountry vskiers 4

1-Apr-92 1 Mineral Basin, near Snowbird Backcountry skier 1

16-Jan-93 1 Sundance (closed area) Backcountry skier 1

25-Feb-93 1 Pinecrest, Emig. Cyn. Backcountry skier 1

3-Apr-93 1 Wolverine Cirque Backcountry skier 1

18-Feb-94 1 10,420 Peak, B.C.C. Backcountry skier 1

7-Nov-94 1 Snowbird (pre-season) Backcountry skier 1

14-Jan-95 2 Ben Lomond, near Ogden Snowmobilers 2

23-Jan-95 1 Midway Resident killed in roof slide 1

12-Feb-95 1 Gobbler’s Knob, B.C.C. Backcountry skier 1

2-Feb-96 1 Solitude patroller Worker 1

27-Mar-96 1 Maybird Gulch, L.C.C. Backcountry skier 1

7-Dec-96 1 Bountiful Peak Snowmobiler 1

26-Dec-96 1 Flagstaff Peak Backcountry snowboarder 1

11-Jan-97 3 Logan Peak Three campers 3

25-Jan-97 1 Provo Canyon Climber 1

17-Jan-98 1 Near Coleville Snowmobiler 1

18-Jan-98 1 Sanpete County Snowmobiler 1

26-Feb-98 1 Near Weber State hiker (possible suicide) 1

7-Nov-98 1 Snowbird (pre-season) Snowboarder 1

2-Jan-99 2 Wasatch Plateau Snowboarders 2

29-Jan-99 1 Mt. Nebo Snowmobiler 1

6-Feb-99 1 Little Willow Canyon Hiker 1

11-Jan-00 1 1 Squaretop Out of bounds Skiers 2

14-Dec-01 1 Willard Basin Snowmobiler 1

27-Feb-01 1 Near Canyons Resort Out of bounds Skier 1

10-Mar-01 2 Uinta Mtns near Oakly Snowmobiler 2

28-Apr-01 2 Stairs Gulch, BCC Climbers 2

31-Jan-02 1 Windy Ridge, Uinta Mtns. Backcountry Skier 1

16-Mar-02 2 Pioneer Ridge near Brighton Out of bounds Snowboarders 2

15-Feb-03 1 Gobbler’s Knob, B.C.C. Skier 1

26-Dec-04 3 Aspen Grove, Timpanogos Snowboarders 3

26-Feb-04 1 Empire Canyon - Park City Snowshoer 1

10-Dec-04 1 Twin Lakes Pass Skier 1

11-Dec-04 1 Trout Creek, Uintas Snowmobiler 1

11-Dec-04 2 Mineral Fork Snowshoer 2

8-Jan-05 1 Ephriam Canyon, Wstch Plt Snowboarder 1

8-Jan-05 1 Choke Cherry, Wasatch Plt Snowmobiler 1

14-Jan-05 1 Dutch's Draw Snowborder 1

31-Mar-05 1 Eccles Peak, Monte Cristo Rg Snowmobiler 1

31-Dec-05 1 Mt Timpanogos Snowshoer 1

11-Mar-06 1 Taylor Canyon near Mt Ogden Snowboarder 1

3-Apr-06 1 Pioneer Ridge near Brighton Snowboarder 1

Male Female Male & Female 1958 season - Present 36 5 14 12 12 5 1

Totals 81 4 85 Past 5 seasons 3 0 9 3 4 0 0

Avalanche Fatalities in Utah 1958-2006 - By Activity
Annual Report 2005-06 Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center

45 

Avalanche Education 

We feel that avalanche education is an essential part of staying alive in avalanche terrain. It not only gives people 

the basics of avalanche knowledge, but it helps create and maintain an avalanche culture, where people learn from 

their peers. We teach many free avalanche awareness classes throughout the season, partially to give people the 

basics of how to stay alive, but also to inspire them to take a more detailed, multi-day avalanche class from the 

private sector. This season our staff taught 152 avalanche classes and directly reached over 20,000 people. 

 

In addition, we also had a very successful Avalanche Awareness Week, starting with a signing ceremony with Jon 

Huntsman, Utah’s Governor, Avalanche awareness week consisted of a media blitz and several classes offered 

both indoor and in the field, plus a successful fundraiser at Snowbird put on by the Friends of the Utah Avalanche 

Center. Many thanks to Roger Kehr and Colleen Graham for organizing the event, and to our great partner, 

Snowbird Ski resort, for hosting the event. 

Bruce Tremper spent two days demonstrating avalanche rescue devices and giving out avalanche information at the Richfield 

National Resources Fair. 
Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center Annual Report 2005-06 

46 

Date Staff Event No. people

11/17/2005 Weed Avalanche Awareness Talk 15

11/18/05 Hardesty Sundance Ski Patrol - Metamorphism 25

11/22/2005 Weed Avalanche Awareness Talk 6

11/23/2005 Tremper/Lees National Avalanche School - 4 days 200

11/29/05 Tremper REI - Avalanche Awareness 200

11/29/05 Hardesty Toolee Outdoor Club - Avalanche Awareness 25

12/1/05 Lees REI - Avalanche Awareness 100

12/1/2005 Weed Avalanche Awareness Talk 13

12/5/05 Hardesty Black Diamond - Avalanche Awareness 20

12/7/05 Lees Alta Communtiy Enrichment - Avalanche Awareness 15

12/8/05 Tremper Wasatch Mountain Club - Avalanche Awareness 120

12/13/05 Hardesty REI - Avalanche Awareness 70

1/3/06 Tremper Wasatch Touring - Avalanche Awareness 30

1/4/06 Tremper Snowbird - Avalanches of Little Cottonwood Canyon 20

1/7/2006 Weed Cache County Search + Rescue 12

1/14-16/06 Staff FUAC Brighton 3-day Level I 25

1/8/06 Tremper Park City - Avalanche Awareness 200

1/17/06 Hardesty Black Diamond - Avalanche Awareness 8

2/8/2006 Weed Avalanche Awareness Talk 2

2/21/06 Hardesty REI - Avalanche Awareness 50

2/22/06 Lees Alta Communtiy Enrichment - Women's Beacon Clinic 18

2/23/06 Lees REI - Avalanche Awareness 35

2/25/2006 Weed Avalanche Awareness Talk 15

3/1/2006 Kikkert Avalanche Awareness Talk 6x 130

12/1/06 Tremper Hansen Mountaineering in Orem 60

2/18-20/06 Staff FUAC Brighton 3-day Level I 30

12/8/2006 Weed Cache County Search + Rescue 30

12/10/2006 Weed Cache County Search + Rescue 20

12/15/2006 Kikkert USU ORC Basic Avalanche 15

12/17/2006 Kikkert USU ORC Basic Avalanche 15

12/27/2006 Weed Custom Class (snowboarders) 6

Tremper REI - Science of Avalanches 200

32 Total talks 1730

UAC Avalanche Education 2005-06

Date Staff Event No. people

9/18/2005 Gordon American Avalanche Association 43

10/12/2005 Gordon Mt. Nebo School District Phys Ed Personnel Training 29

11/9/2005 Gordon Cascade Drift Skippers Snowmobile Club 102

11/15/2005 Gordon Bear River Yamaha Snowmobile Shop 93

11/15/2006 Gordon Kamas Ranger District Staff 13

11/21/2005 Cardinale Park City High School (4 talks) 378

11/22/2005 Hutchinson Park City High School (4 talks) 342

12/1/2005 Gordon Realms of Inquiry School 63

12/6/2005 Gordon Full Throttle Power Sports Snowmobile Shop 28

12/7/2005 Gordon Timponogas Regional Hospital 73

12/8/2005 Gordon REI 41

Know Before You Go Presentations 2005-06
Annual Report 2005-06 Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center

47 

Date Staff Event No. people

Know Before You Go Presentations 2005-06

12/12/2005 Garcia Herriman Junior High School (2 talks) 856

12/13/2005 Gordon North Summit Middle School 320

12/13/2005 Gordon North Summit High School 472

12/15/2005 Gordon South Summit Middle School 370

12/15/2005 Gordon South Summit High School 441

12/16/2005 Gordon Brigham Intermediate High School (2 talks) 1015

12/20/2005 Sackett Churchill Junior High School 250

12/21/2005 Gordon Wanship Fire Station Snowmobile Avy Talk 17

12/22/2005 Hutchinson Rocky Mountain Middle School (2 talks) 626

1/4/2006 Gordon Olympus Junior High School 900

1/4/2006 Gordon Utah State Parks Law Enforcement Personnel 21

1/4/2006 Gordon Powder Mountain Volunteer Ski Patrol 61

1/5/2006 Morris Eastmont Middle School 967

1/5/2006 Trotter Salem Stake Center 37

1/6/2006 Garcia Ogden High School 113

1/9/2006 Garcia Treasure Mountain Middle School (4 talks) 120

1/9/2006 Whatley Indian Hills Middle School (2 talks) 1200

1/10/2006 Trotter Treasure Mountain Middle School (4 talks) 107

1/10/2006 Gordon Goldman, Sachs and Company 28

1/11/2006 Cardinale Kennedy Junior High School (4 talks) 602

1/12/2006 Morris Kennedy Junior High School (4 talks) 645

1/12/2006 Trotter Novell 30

1/12/2006 Gordon Access Motor Sports Snowmobile Shop 11

1/13/2006 Gordon Centerville Junior High School 1052

1/13/2005 Hutchinson Butler Middle School 1105

1/14/2005 Gordon Rowland Hall- Saint Marks Middle School Ski Team 22

1/17/2006 Wewer/Fletcher Bountiful Boy Scouts 33

1/18/2006 Gordon Utah State Parks Grooming Personnel 18

1/18/2006 Trotter Treasure Mountain Middle School (4 talks) 141

1/19/2006 Morris Treasure Mountain Middle School (4 talks) 156

1/19/2006 Trotter Mount Nebo Boy Scouts 22

1/19/2006 Gordon Westminister College 42

1/20/2006 Gordon Park City High School (2 snowpit talks) 44

1/23/2006 Garcia/Whatley South Davis Junior High School (6 talks) 591

1/23/2006 Gordon Park City High School (1 snowpit talk) 29

1/25/2006 Gordon Evergreen High School 852

1/25/2006 Gordon University of Utah Snow Dynamics 21

1/26/2006 Gordon Utah State Parks Grooming Personnel 11

1/27/2006 Gordon Oakley School 113

1/27/2006 Gordon BYU College 82

1/31/2006 Gordon Salt Lake City Boy Scouts 57

1/31/2006 Trotter Heber Boy Scout Leaders 35

2/1/2006 Gordon McGillis School 51

2/1/2006 Gordon Brighton Ski Resort 156

2/6/2006 Wewer/Fletcher Hill Airforce Base 51

2/8/2006 Gordon Vernal Junior High School (2 talks) 782

2/8/2006 Gordon Vernal Western Park Public Talk 37

2/9/2006 Gordon Brighton Volunteer Ski Patrol 92

2/9/2006 Sackett Salt Lake Realtors Association 15

2/10/2006 Gordon Steeps Camp- Snowbird 24

2/11/2006 Gordon Kamas Ranger District Goodwill Riders Program 18

2/13/2006 Whatley Grantsville Middle School 480

2/13/2006 Whatley Grantsville High School 864
Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center Annual Report 2005-06 

48 

Date Staff Event No. people

Know Before You Go Presentations 2005-06

2/14/2006 Gordon Park City Learning Center 38

2/15/2006 Trotter Treasure Mountain Middle School (4 talks) 124

2/15/2006 Sackett Sandy Boy Scout Group 85

2/15/2006 Trotter Utah Valley State College 11

2/16/2006 Morris Treasure Mountain Middle School (4 talks) 119

2/18/2006 Gordon Rocky Mountain Search and Rescue Dogs 21

2/24/2006 Gordon Steeps Camp- Snowbird 22

2/25/2006 Gordon Wasatch Search and Rescue 43

2/27/2006 Gordon Park City Police Department 12

3/3/2006 Trotter Wasatch Academy 10

3/23/2006 Morris South Ogden Junior High School 822

4/3/2006 Gordon Eagle Bay Elementary 102

4/4/2006 Wewer/Fletcher Smithfield Boy Scout Group 29

4/5/2006 Gordon Steeps Camp- Snowbird 8

4/27/2006 Gordon Itineris Early College High School 72

Total talks-120 18,928

An avalanche students practices her skills 

with a beacon. Avalanche skills are learned 

best by doing, not by reading or listening. 

Therefore, we try to get people out in the 

snow as often as possible. 
Annual Report 2005-06 Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center

49 

Date Staff Agency Subject

National or Inter-national Television InterviewNational or Inter-national Television InformationNational or Inter-national Print MediaLocal Television InterviewsNational Radio InterviewsLocal Radio InterviewsLocal Print Interviews

10/15/2005 Gordon Free Ride Magazine Avalanche Education x

10/17/2005 Gordon Ski News Avalanche Education x

11/1/2005 Gordon Snowscoop Avalanche Education x

11/17/2005 Gordon Uinta County Herald Local Avalanche Presentations x

11/20/2005 Hardesty Toole Register 

Newspaper Avalanche Danger x

11/30/2005 Lees KSL Radio Avalanche Danger x

11/30/2005 Weed KUSU, Utah Public Radio 1⁄2 hour avalanche interview x

12/1/2005 Gordon Snowscoop New Advisory Format x

12/2/2005 Tremper Salt Lake Tribune Avalanche Conditions x

12/2/2005 Tremper Channel 13 Avalanche Conditios x

12/4/2005 Hardesty KSL TV Avalanche Conditions/No Name 

Avalanche x

12/6/2005 Tremper Park Record No-Name Accident x

12/10/2005 Lees Skiing Magazine Debunking the Avalanche Myths x

12/14/2005 Lees Skiing Magazine Debunking the Avalanche Myths x

12/22/2005 Gordon Park City TV Avalanche Advisories/Education x

12/26/2005 Hardesty Skiing Magazine Debunking the Avalanche Myths x

12/30/2005 Kobernik KSL TV Avalanche Danger x

1/1/2006 Gordon Salt Lake Tribune Avalanche Conditions x

1/1/2006 Gordon Snowscoop Snow and Avalanche Obs. x

1/1/2006 Gordon Ski News New Advisory Format x

1/2/2006 Hardesty KSL TV Avalanche Danger x

1/2/2006 Hardesty KSL Radio Avalanche Danger x

1/6/2006 Weed Logan Herald Journal Short article giving education dates x

1/9/2006 Gordon Salt Lake Tribune Avalanche Conditions x

1/10/2006 Gordon KSL Radio Know Before You Go Avy Ed. x

1/13/2006 Gordon The Avalanche Review Avy Education for Snowmobilers x

1/14/2006 Gordon Fox 13 News Backcountry Awareness Week x

1/15/2006 Gordon Free Ride Magazine Five Red Flags x

1/18/2006 Gordon KTVX Ch 4 News Avy Training for State Parks x

1/18/2006 Gordon KSTU Ch 13 News Avy Training for State Parks x

1/23/2006 Gordon The Weather Channel Dec. 05 Bountiful Pk. Avalanche x x

2/1/2006 Gordon Snowscoop Clues to Instability x

2/8/2006 Tremper Wall Street Journal Article about avalanches x

2/8/2006 Tremper German magazine Article about avalanches x

2/8/2006 Tremper Channel 13 Avalanche conditions x

2/11/2006 Gordon Park Record Local Avalanche Presentations x

2/15/2006 Tremper Backpacker Magazine Article about avalanches x

2/17/2006 Tremper National Geographic 

Adventure Article about avalanches x

2/22/2006 Gordon Park Record Know Before You Go Video x

3/1/2006 Tremper Skiing Magazine 18-page spread on avalanches x

3/1/2006 Gordon Ski News Avalanche Rescue Gear x

3/4/2006 Kobernik Channel 4 Pioneer Avalanhce Fatality x

3/4/2006 Kobernik Channel 5 Pioneer Avalanhce Fatality x

3/4/2006 Kobernik Channel 13 Pioneer Avalanhce Fatality x

3/5/2006 Gordon Uinta County Herald BRORA Donation x

3/12/2006 Gordon Snowscoop Rescue Gear Technology x

3/12/2006 Gordon Salt Lake Tribune Ogden Area Avy Fatality x

3/21/2006 Weed Logan Herald Journal Article on Weed x

3/28/2006 Kobernik KSL Radio Springtime Avalanche Concerns x

3/28/2006 Kobernik KCPW Springtime Avalanche Concerns x

3/29/2006 Lees KSL TV Avalanche Danger x

UAC Media Contacts 2005-06 
Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center Annual Report 2005-06 

50 

Date Staff Agency Subject

National or Inter-national Television InterviewNational or Inter-national Television InformationNational or Inter-national Print MediaLocal Television InterviewsNational Radio InterviewsLocal Radio InterviewsLocal Print Interviews

UAC Media Contacts 2005-06 

4/3/2006 Kobernik Channel 2 Pioneer Avalanhce Fatality x

4/3/2006 Gordon KUTV Ch 2 News Pioneer Ridge Fatality x

4/4/2006 Kobernik KSL Radio Springtime Avalanche Concerns x

4/6/2006 Tremper Channel 13 Springtime Avalanche Concerns x

4/7/2006 Kobernik KSL Radio Little Cottonwood Avalanches x

4/11/2006 Gordon Park City TV Spring Avalanche Conditions x

4/18/2006 Tremper Channel 5 Spring snow storm x

4/19/2006 Tremper Channel 13 Avalanche Conditions x

4/20/2006 Gordon Discovery Channel Avy Ed/Know Before You Go x

5/10/2006 Tremper Discover-Time Documentary about avalanches x

 1/5/2006 Weed Logan Herald Journal Article quoted Weed and Tremper x

Utah Governor, Jon Huntsman signs the declaration for Avalanche Awareness Week. From left: Tim Garcia, Faye 

Krueger, Governor Huntsman, Craig Gordon, Roger Kehr, Jerry Mika, Bruce Tremper 
Annual Report 2005-06 Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center

51 

Budget 

The Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center is the epitome of a successful partnership. Although we are a 

Forest Service program, only 19% of our annual funding comes from Forest Service base funding. The rest 

come from a variety of State, County and private funding sources. This season, we received an additional 

one-time grant of nearly $30,000 to do an outreach program for people who don’t normally consult the 

avalanche advisory before heading out (see Avalanche Outreach Program). 

Utah Division of Parks and Recreation is the largest contributor to the program. They fund avalanche forecasting for the western Uinta, Logan and Manti Skyline areas, plus they fund a 1-800 recorded avalanche 

hotline for snowmobilers and avalanche education for snowmobilers statewide. Thanks so much to Fred 

Hayes and his cohorts for their loyal support. 

The Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center is a non-profit organization that raises private funds for avalanche forecasting and avalanche education in Utah. This season, they donated $29,500 to the Forest Service, primarily for salaries, and they also spent an estimated $20,000 outside the Forest Service to pay backcountry volunteer and contract observers, purchase computer equipment, teach avalanche classes and purchase safety equipment. Thanks so much to President Colleen Graham and the hard work by board members and volunteers who donate their time throughout the season. 

Both the Utah Division of Homeland Security and Salt Lake County have been longtime contributors to the 

program and we heartily thank them for their support. 

Forest Service $42,000 

Utah Division of Parks and Recreation $82,000 

Utah Department of Homeland Security $25,000 

Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center $22,500 

Salt Lake County $20,000 

Forest Service Centennial grant – Avalanche Outreach $29,560 

 

Total 221,060