Brad C.

Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » Cardiff Bowl

Cardiff Bowl

10,000'

Southeast

32°

Skier

Unintentionally Triggered

Hard Slab

Wind Drifted Snow

Density Change

6"

20'

250'

1

1

Overall, the snow conditions were windblown, minor drifting with windslabs. At the trigger point, the wind slabs were about 6 inches thick on top of previous storm snow. Lower in the bowl at the toe of the slide there were no wind crusts or slabs.

I reached Cardiff Pass at about 3 pm and stopped for some gear repairs and to observe Cardiff Bowl for safety and ski-ability. I read the avi report this morning and was aware of the warnings about wind slab. I approached the bowl from the high line, at the same level as the power conduit feeding the weather station. The snow was wind blown, but no cracking at first. I cleared the rocky section and proceeded out onto the bowl slowly, stomping and observing. About 100 feet onto the traverse, the density became VERY hard. I decided to move out to the next rock outcrop for a small safety zone. As I took one step, there was a big crack below me. At that time, I started to back up in my tracks when the slab broke about 15 feet above my head. I tried to self arrest, but the slab moved under my feet, so I tried to keep my balance and head up, the slab broke apart and carried me to the bottom of the bowl. It covered my legs but didn't bury or injure me.

Photos show looking up at crown, which was about 10 inches from toe where I landed. The second photo shows some of the wind slab that was broken into smaller pieces during the slide.