Weather conditions this weekend present an extreme avalanche threat in Utah's back country and unopened ski resorts where the slopes haven't been stabilized.
Heavy snowfall is expected, especially in the highest mountain elevations. The wind will be howling and new snow will fall on a thin layer of unstable "sugary" snow. The combination creates a "triple whammy" threat for anyone who heads for the mountains, said Bruce Tremper, director of the Forest Service's Utah Avalanche Center.
The article (see link above) also includes the following warning...
And the notion that avalanche dangers are higher when the snow is much deeper? Not so, Tremper said. A skier or snowboarder triggering an avalanche on thin snow is going to be raked across the rocks if the sliding snow catches them.
:shock:
Ski areas now open in Utah include Brighton, Solitude, Snowbird, Alta and Park City - stay safe, people!