Observation: Cardiff Fork 12/28/2011

Observer Name:

Kyle Van Peursem

Observation Date:

12/28/2011

Region:

Salt Lake
Big Cottonwood Canyon
Cardiff Fork

Location or Route:

BCC, Mill D South Fork

Weather

Sky:

Overcast

Precipitation:

Light Snowfall

Wind Direction:

Northwest

Wind Speed:

Moderate

Weather Comments:

Overcast skies with ceilings around 9,500 ft. Temps varied from 41F at the trailhead (7300ft) to about 30F at 10,000ft. There was some light drizzle/snow falling periodically.

Snow Characteristics

Snow Surface Conditions:

Wind Crust

Damp

Snow Characteristic Comments:

Snow was pretty damp as temps were above freezing for most of the tour up. Snow was very clumpy and mashed potato-like and stuck to skis/skins easily above 9,000ft. Found a couple wind slabs on different aspects as well.

Red Flags

Wind Loading

Cracking

Collapsing

Rapid Warming

Primary Concern

Primary Concern:

Wind Slabs

Probability:

Considerable

Aspect:

Northeast

East

Southeast

Elevation:

High

Mid

Trend:

More Dangerous

Primary Concern Comments:

Where wind slabs are present, they will most likely be on top of a large layer of facets and the two layers will not be bonded together well. As the temps have warmed up, the wind slabs are becoming increasingly unstable and reactive.

snow_profile_location:

Comments - Photos - Videos (group 1)

Cracking found while traveling over an East facing slope (8100ft) with a wind slab on top. Performed a shovel shear test and released the wind slab easily. Performed an ECT with results being ECT11Q1. Wind slab was only 6 inches deep but sheared off very easily. Though this one slope would not be too dangerous as it was short and shallow in depth, other slopes with more wind loading would be unstable and very hazardous.

Video 1:

Observed Danger Rating:

Moderate

Forecast Danger Rating:

Moderate