Noel Stewartr

Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » Cardiff Pass

Cardiff Pass

9,400'

South

36°

Skier

Intentionally Triggered

Wet Snow

New Snow/Old Snow Interface

9"

60'

300'

Party of two skiing Cardiff Pass area about 3:45 pm. There were several areas that broke beginning with the shoulder which ran about 300 ft. this broke again at the crest where the debris ended from the first slide. The second break ran all the way down to the trees. Each were about 60 ft. wide and seemed to be mostly the top layers breaking on the new snow line, but also was deeper about 9” to 10” so must have been going some deeper too? The last hill that is quite steep near the road broke twice on ski cuts, as had also the first two slides. These last two took out most of the face. Finally skied over another 30 ft. and took it down without breaking loose. Steep places definitely are prone to sliding guessing the afternoon heating, did not help, but actually the temps got cold again by the time we had hit the ridge line. So, would have thought this would have stiffened up the pack again? So, yeah be careful not seeming too dangerous just top layers, most of what we were seeing but still could possibly be breaking into lower layers too and knock you down?