âWeâd be better off with no snow right now,â said Eric Trenbeath, an avalanche forecaster for the U.S. Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center. Trenbeath filmed an Instagram video on Nov. 20 describing current conditions in the La Sal Mountains outside of Moab. Instagram is just one of the many venues the Utah Avalanche Center uses to reach out to backcountry users with up-to-date snow reports, educational opportunities and other information as the group expects a winter of unfavorable conditions and new backcountry users. This week is the second annual Avalanche Awareness Week in Utah, which focuses on promoting snow science education and backcountry safety. Avalanche awareness could be especially important this year, as due to the COVID-19 pandemic many ski resorts will only open in limited capacities, potentially sending skiers, snowboarders, and other backcountry users into avalanche terrain.