Stay on top of the snow instead of buried under it. Finally, the winter seems to be off and running which means that with each storm, the avalanche danger is going to jack. The Utah Avalanche Center is the source for avalanche conditions in the Wasatch. Starting today, the UAFC will blast intermittent updates as needed. They’ll go full bore around mid-November on various radio stations and Utah’s KSL on Saturday mornings. The non-profit will pinpoint five regions around Utah before you head out for the day.

In 93 percent of avalanche fatalities, the victim, or someone in the victim’s party, triggers the slide that kills them. This means that the vast majority of avalanche accidents don’t happen by chance. They happen to the stupid and the cocky. Before you go out of bounds know what you’re getting into. Take a basic avalanche class and check the daily avalanche advisory. If you’ve never seen the Know Before You Go video, take a look. You can learn a lot about avis in under 10 minutes.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWDK0cD2S8c&w=420&h=315]

UtahAvalancheCenter.org is loaded with avalanche insights, updates and accident reports. You can also call 888-999-4019 and follow UAFC on Twitter (UACwasatch) and Facebook.

Another super cool Twitterer is @UDOTavy for info on road closures in Little Cottonwood, Big Cottonwood and Provo canyons.

I made it to Snowbird before it was too late. The last “regular” Sunday of the season brings out all of the local riff-raff (The Bird will be open weekends through Memorial Day). Like the final day at Alta where the crowd gathers on top of High Rustler, core riders arrived at the top of Hidden Peak to party and celebrate what has come to be one of the biggest powder seasons of the decade. Beer, barbecues, buddies. As a fitting close, the sunny skies crowded in and squeezed out a shower of heavy, wet snow for my run. With the Peruvian side now off limits, I made my way through the thick waves of resort slush, alternately zipping and stopping as the softer sections grabbed my ski bases then released them. As I wound down Regulator, every turn echoed the epic runs of the season – at Snowbasin. Alta, Solitude, Tahoe, Park City, The Canyons, Jackson. This was going to be a very long summer.