Observation: Cardiff Fork

Observation Date
4/18/2013
Observer Name
mark white
Region
Salt Lake
Location Name or Route
Cardiff Fork
Weather
Sky
Clear
Wind Direction
Northeast
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
NE winds still blowing in the moderate catagory this morning, letting up in the afternoon. Still fairly cold in the wind.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
12"
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Dense Loose
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments

Snow stayed dry on the high north today, got damp everywhere else. Only real wet activity noted today was late in the afternoon on west facing, I think the wind kept the east facing from activating too much.

Comments

This is probably my last ob for the year, went to Craig Patterson memorial this morning, and decided to ski into Cardiff Fork and out BCC one last time. I know its a bit off the subject but when I walked out of the memorial I noticed this large spindrift coming of the ridge line. Not being much of a spiritual guy it still struck me in a strange way, seemed like Craig might have been saying good bye in his own way.

Back to the subject of snow, most of the activity noted today was wet slides on the west facing slopes late in the afternoon. The activity did not really start until around 3;00pm, I could see and hear the wet slides coming out of the west facing cliffs for quite awhile. decided to have a seat and watch the show. Blew it and missed the biggest slide when I dropped my camera in the snow, but was able to catch one side in motion. Photos, wet slide in motion and debris from previous slides all west facing.

There was also a little dry activity today in the form of shallow soft slabs. I skied two runs into the Keyhole N-NW facing, first run dry powder, second run 45 min later produced wet push-alanche. Also noted a skier triggerd soft slab in the skiers left chute in Cardiac Bowl. Down lower on the summer road under Kessler also noted skier triggered wet activity.

My hope is that some people found my info helpful in their winter travels. The rest of the photos are just for scenic purposes, hope every one has a good summer.