(Chapters 1-6 can be found HERE) The Crossing In his novel, The Crossing, Cormac McCarthy describes a scene where the two boys, having just crossed the border into Mexico, come into the company of an old man and ask him directions to the ranch of which they seek. The old man proceeded to sketch in the dust streams and promontories and pueblos and mountain ranges. He commenced to draw trees and houses. Clouds. A bird. He penciled in the horsemen themselves doubled upon their mount. Billy leaned forward from time to time to question the measure of some part of their route …

The following blog post is by guest author, UAC observer, and Wasatch Backcountry Alliance vice president Tom Diegel. This post is not intended to represent official opinions of the UAC. Instead, it is to offer a starting point for constructive discussions and thoughts about how to recreate during the current health care crisis. The State of Utah has information about outdoor recreation posted HERE. COVID19. It’s real, and real scary. Got it. But I, probably like you, am already weary of hearing about it. However, regardless of how weary I am of COVID19, it doesn’t matter: …

Our Week in Review highlights significant snowfall, weather, and avalanche events of the previous week. (Click here to review the archived forecasts for the Salt Lake mountains.) The danger roses for the Salt Lake mountains from Friday, March 6 through Thursday, March 12, 2020: Summary: A late-weekend storm delivers a much-needed return to winter Friday/Saturday March 6-7: Low avalanche danger with only small, wet-loose avalanches reported. Sunday, March 8: An over-delivering storm enters the region, snowfall and water totals include: …

Our Week in Review highlights significant snowfall, weather, and avalanche events of the previous week. (Click here to review the archived forecasts for the Salt Lake mountains.) The danger roses for the Salt Lake mountains from Friday, February 28 through Thursday, March 5, 2020: Summary: A small storm over Sunday and Monday delivers 4-10" of low-density snow to the mid and upper elevations. Primary avalanche activity involves sluffing in the loose storm snow. Friday/Saturday, February 28/29: - Stable conditions and low avalanche danger. Increasing clouds …

In this podcast, we talk with Blase Reardon. Blase has been a backcountry avalanche forecaster in Ketchum, Aspen, Glacier National Park, and is now the lead forecaster for the Flathead Avalanche Center in northern Montana. Blase joins us to talk about the challenges of forecasting in the various ranges of the West and the different roles and responsibilities that come with each position and each snowpack. On tap this episode: forecasting in data-sparse regions; the mysteries of wet snow; Mr. Magoo's close calls, wicked learning environments & the illusion of expertise; the need for …

Our Week in Review highlights significant snowfall, weather, and avalanche events of the previous week. (Click here to review the archived forecasts for the Salt Lake mountains.) The danger roses for the Salt Lake mountains from Friday, February 21 through Thursday, February 27, 2020: Summary: The 2019-20 winter was put on hold as high pressure dominated the region over much of this past week. A weak storm with strong winds early in the week was the only weather highlight. No significant avalanches to report. Friday/Saturday/Sunday Feb 21-23 - Warm temperatures …