Observation: Cardiff Fork 1/7/2011

Observer Name: 
Nalli
Region: 
Cardiff Fork
Big Cottonwood Canyon
Salt Lake
Observation Date: 
01/07/2011
Location or Route: 
Cardiff and Mineral
snow_profile_location: 
Comments - Photos - Videos (group 1)

Today's good skiing is tomorrow's buried weak layer.  Advanced NSF and surface hoar dominate the snowcover.   Most exposed terrain has some form of wind crust to contend with but even these slopes still have faceted snow at the surface.  Sunny slopes are the only exception to the facets.

Nalli 2011-01-07 LSB.jpg
Printer-friendly version
Comments - Photos - Videos (group 2)

3-4mm cups

Nalli 2011-01-07 Facets.jpg
Comments - Photos - Videos (group 3)

The glide cracks in Cardiff are really impressive.  They are opening more everyday beginning to come closer to forming one big connected bergschrund below cardiac ridge. 

Nalli 2011-01-07 Glide.jpg
Comments - Photos - Videos (group 4)

Note from Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center:

This photo was sent to us as part of the above observation and we have deleted the original comments from the observer.  Our policy is to deal with avalanches and avalanche safety.

Standard safe travel practice for all backcountry users in avalanche terrain is to avoid exposing more than one person on a slope at a time.

 

001.jpg
Observed Danger Rating: 
Low
Forecast Danger Rating: 
Low

Site Built by Dharmatech
Site Refresh by Flint Creative