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Observation: Cardiff/Mineral

Observation Date
2/22/2024
Observer Name
will jack bailey
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Cardiff/Mineral
Location Name or Route
Cardiff/Mineral
Weather
Sky
Broken
Wind Speed
Calm
Weather Comments
Just enough movement in the air to rearrange clouds and give us occasional strong sunshine and spectacular views. There was just enough snow falling to make the air sparkle. No accumulation to speak of today nor active wind loading.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Dense Loose
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
Collins said 4 inches of new last night. This piled up nicely to offer excellent riding conditions in all aspects traveled today at mid to upper elevations. W-N-E. As you descend the snow gets heavier and wetter. In the morning sun we felt the snow get just wet enough to start glopping on our skins. In the afternoon sun the western slopes had hot pow but still rode well.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Wind Loading
Collapsing
Red Flags Comments
Recent avalanches we observed today were all within the top ~12 inches of the snowpack. Not widely propogating. Often dry loose triggering a small soft slab of presumably wind drifted snow. At upper elevations near ridgelines previous wind loading was present but not always apparent with the new blanket of fresh from last night. We triggered a slab maybe 10×10' and 12 inches deep near the ridge on a west aspect at 10,400' which failed on graupel ran all of 6 feet in mid 30s. We triggered extensive dry loose avalanches which moved slowly and were easily avoidable. One collapse was felt breaking trail atop the ridge between cardiff and mineral. A fridge sized cornice drop just entrained sluff but no slab release. I stuck my probe in a couple times around 9200-9400 on the way up George's bowl and saw 275 cm of snow.
Comments
Pictured below is a soft slab avalanche near mongo no
Pictured below that is Big Cottonwood poking her heads through the clouds
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
Coordinates