UDOT PLANNED AVALANCHE CLOSURES!!

Avalanche: Cardiff Fork

Observer Name
Jake Hutchinson
Observation Date
Wednesday, December 14, 2016
Avalanche Date
Wednesday, December 14, 2016
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Cardiff Fork
Location Name or Route
North Face Cardiff Peak
Elevation
9,900'
Aspect
Northeast
Slope Angle
36°
Trigger
Skier
Trigger: additional info
Intentionally Triggered
Avalanche Type
Soft Slab
Avalanche Problem
New Snow
Weak Layer
New Snow
Depth
6"
Width
175'
Vertical
150'
Comments

Getting ready to traverse from Intermediate Ridge back to main ridge and exit back to Alta. Stopped group high under rocks to discuss strategy. Reached forward to do a quick hand pit and triggered the slide as my weight shifted. It was unintentional but not unexpected. What was unexpected, was the sensitivity of the new snow and how far it propagated and ran. It was mostly harmless but did stack up enough snow in the trees to bury a person. Depth ranged from 3" to 12". I also remotely triggered the North Face of Cardiff Peak on our way out, the entire width 6-10" deep and running over the cliff band. With the slick "graupel" footing today, either of these slides were capable of causing a person to lose balance or be knocked over and could be consequential in some terrain.

Coordinates