New Utah Avalanche App Puts Backcountry Safety in the Palm of Your Hand With Utah’s ski resorts becoming increasingly crowded, more skiers and snowboarders are venturing into the backcountry in search of fresh turns and solitude. But with that freedom comes risk—particularly the danger of avalanches. Recognizing the growing need for easily accessible safety information, the Utah Avalanche Center has launched a new mobile app designed to keep backcountry users informed and prepared. […] Industry News Anders Henrikson | March 6, 2025 0 Comments
Utah Avalanche Center: “We Are Doomed in Utah for a Very Dangerous Winter” “I don’t mean to be the bearer of bad news here but we’re doomed in Utah for a very dangerous winter. As you can see our snowpack is completely faceted. This is basically the entire state.” – Trent Meisenheimer, Utah Avalanche Center, 12/25/24 The Utah Avalanche Center just released a video talking about their weak snowpack structure and the big […] Backcountry AvyBrains | December 27, 2024 0 Comments
‘Backcountry’ Partners with Utah Avalanche Center to Promote Snow Safety The partnership will amplify avalanche safety awareness messaging, yield educational videos and provide gear guidance for backcountry enthusiasts Backcountry, the leading specialty retailer for outdoor gear and apparel, renews its long-term partnership with Utah Avalanche Center (UAC), an organization known nationally for its ‘Know Before You Go” program. The announcement coincides with the fifth annual Avalanche Awareness Week, established to […] Avalanche AvyBrains | December 7, 2023 0 Comments
Utah Avalanche Center: “Classic Pattern Unfolding” for Dangerous Avalanche Conditions This Winter View this post on Instagram A post shared by Utah Avalanche Center (@utavy) Big fall-season snow is not good for avalanche conditions later on in the winter. It’s often a recipe for disaster, as explained by Utah Avalanche Forecaster Mark Staples in the video above. Related: CAIC: Why Early Season Snow is Dangerous in Colorado On a quick outing […] Avalanche AvyBrains | November 1, 2023 0 Comments
Utah Avalanche Center Releases Annual Report: Record Number of Avalanches in 2022/23 The Utah Avalanche Center, responsible for the eight Utah forecast regions, has wrapped up its season and published its Annual Report, including metrics around forecasting, education, and awareness programs. Here are some of the main points: Statistics: Snow/avalanche 219 % average snowpack 395 human-triggered avalanches 92 people caught 14 people buried 3 people killed Budget $1,600,000 total budget 20% from […] Avalanche AvyBrains | June 20, 2023 0 Comments
Utah Avalanche Center Aims to Raise $100,000 with Spring Campaign to Fund New Avalanche Safety Tools and Technology This article originally appeared on utahavalanchecenter.org You play an important role in helping the Utah Avalanche Center fulfill our mission to keep people on top of The Greatest Snow on Earth® by providing avalanche forecasting, awareness, and education throughout the state of Utah. By making a donation today you are investing in the tools, technology, and people who carry out […] Avalanche SnowBrains | March 3, 2023 0 Comments
Utah Avalanche Center Describes How Best to Approach a Moderate Avalanche Danger With a Persistent Weak Layer The blog was originally published on utahavalanchecenter.org The danger was “only” moderate that day. My friends and I had climbed up through south-facing terrain looking to ski powder in an upper alpine north-facing bowl. It was a beautiful day. The danger had recently dropped, and we didn’t see or experience any outward signs of instability such as cracking, collapsing, or […] Avalanche AvyBrains | December 20, 2022 0 Comments
SnowBrains Podcast #42 | Utah Avalanche Center – Should We Use Avalanche Airbag Backpacks?, How To Stay Out of Avalanches, Updated “Know Before You Go” Brought to you by Alta Ski Area & Gunnison Crested Butte My guest today is the Utah Avalanche Center‘s Executive Director, Chad Brackelsberg: Chad joined the Utah Avalanche Center as Executive Director in July 2017. He is responsible for communications, marketing, fundraising, strategy, and UAC business operations. Chad brings more than 20 years of corporate experience in technology consulting and […] Podcasts Podcast | November 8, 2022 0 Comments
Utah Avalanche Center Shares Annual Season Report: 0 Avalanche Fatalities Last Winter View this post on Instagram A post shared by Utah Avalanche Center (@utavy) The Utah Avalanche Center (UAC) has released its annual report recapping the season’s noteworthy snow and avalanche events. The numbers are in, and although hundreds of avalanches were triggered and dozens of backcountry users were buried, no one was killed in an avalanche last […] Avalanche AvyBrains | June 21, 2022 2 Comments
[PHOTOS] Utah Avalanche Center Warns of Danger at Closed Resorts After Slide at Alta Ski Area The Utah Avalanche Center (UAC) has warned skiers and riders to treat closed ski resorts like the backcountry after a skier triggered an avalanche at Alta Ski Area on Wednesday. Wednesday 5/4 – Skier triggered avalanches are reported from closed Cottonwood resorts. Treat closed ski areas like the backcountry as no control work is being performed. Avalanches are possible once […] Avalanche AvyBrains | May 5, 2022 0 Comments
Don’t Miss Backcountry Safety Awareness Week, December 13-18th, Presented By Take Care Tahoe Brought to you by The Tahoe Fund Whether you’re a backcountry rookie or professional ski mountaineer, keeping your skills sharp is a life-long process. For the second year running, Take Care Tahoe is hosting Backcountry Safety Awareness Week, December 13-18th. It’s a mix of online programming and in-person events to promote backcountry safety and education, and best of all, it’s […] Featured Article Mike Lavery | December 8, 2021 0 Comments
The Importance of Tracking Early Season Weak Layers in the Snowpack… How Long do They Persist? This video and text was originally published on the Utah Avalanche Center website This is a presentation from Utah Avalanche Center director Mark Staples on tracking early season snow and how it may form persistent weak layers as well as how those layers heal. It’s October and it’s snowing in the mountains. Early season snow is exciting, but it can […] Avalanche AvyBrains | October 27, 2021 1 Comment
[VIDEO] Utah Avalanche Center Conditions Update: Good Snowpack So Far in Wasatch, Keep an Eye on Incoming Atmospheric River View this post on Instagram A post shared by Utah Avalanche Center (@utavy) The snowpack in Utah’s Wasatch Mountains is off to a remarkably good start this year. That’s surprising for October because often early-season snowfall can create weak layers hidden deep within the snowpack which can cause devastating avalanches later in the winter. That is unless it […] Avalanche AvyBrains | October 25, 2021 0 Comments
Utah Avalanche Center to Host 28th Annual Backcountry Benefit on September 9 in Salt Lake City, UT View this post on Instagram A post shared by Utah Avalanche Center (@utavy) The Utah Avalanche Center’s biggest fundraiser of the year is back. The 28th Annual Backcountry Benefit will be held on Thursday, September 9th from 6-10 PM in the Black Diamond parking lot in Salt Lake City (2084 East 3900 South). The Utah Avalanche Center wrote […] Industry News AvyBrains | August 9, 2021 0 Comments
Bruce Tremper, Former Utah Avalanche Center Director, to Be Inducted Into the Intermountain Ski Hall of Fame In a social media post over the weekend, the Utah Avalanche Center announced that their former director, Bruce Tremper, is to be “inducted into the Intermountain Ski Hall of Fame in August at the Olympic Winter Sports Center in Park City for creative contributions to the avalanche world.” Bruce Tremper, former UAC Director for 29 years, will be inducted into […] Industry News AvyBrains | May 17, 2021 0 Comments
Utah Avalanche Center: “Wet and Glide Avalanches Coming” – Be Wary of Spring Conditions [arve url="https://youtu.be/FT_f1hR5U_g"] AvyBrains | April 2, 2021 Likes Tweets 0 Comments
Close Calls With Avalanches and the Ensuing Social Media Comment Superstorm The 2020-2021 avalanche season has been significant on multiple levels. Most notably, it has had a historic death toll of 36 people in the United States as of March 31. Avalanche incidents have become popular in the mainstream media, and survivors face a dilemma in sharing their incidents. Reporting observations, accidents, and incidents are primary ways avalanche professionals advance the […] Avalanche Dominic Gawel | April 1, 2021 0 Comments
Utah Avalanche Danger Downgraded – But Not Completely Safe After weeks of high-to-extreme avalanche danger in the Wasatch Mountains near Salt Lake City, UT, avalanche forecasters have declared avalanche danger to finally be in the “Low” and “Moderate” category. A tricky layered snowpack persisted throughout the winter in the Wasatch, challenging even the most experienced avalanche experts in the region and leading to six deaths in the Utah mountains […] Avalanche Anson Brown | March 16, 2021 2 Comments
The SnowBrains Podcast | Episode #16 | 27 Avalanche Deaths in Only 29-Days in the USA… Why Did the US Just See Its Deadliest Avalanche Cycle of All-Time? Episode #16 of The SnowBrains Podcast Mark Staples – Director of the Utah Avalanche Center “27 Avalanche Deaths in Only 29-Days in the USA… Why Did the US Just See Its Deadliest Avalanche Cycle of All-Time?” This is another podcast that’s gonna a little different. The USA just went through its deadliest avalanche cycle in history with 27 avalanche fatalities […] Podcasts SnowBrains | March 2, 2021 0 Comments
Utah Avalanche Center: Danger in the Danger Ratings In a Facebook and Instagram post today, the Utah Avalanche Center (UAC) shared a unique and informative graphic and message that applies to all of us who travel in the backcountry, regardless of where we are. Contrary to what you might think, recreational backcountry avalanche incidents are not more likely during periods of ‘High’ or ‘Extreme’ avalanche danger. According to […] Avalanche Mike Bartholow | February 22, 2021 2 Comments