Observation: Cardiff Pass

Observation Date
11/11/2014
Observer Name
Evelyn
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » Cardiff Pass
Location Name or Route
Alta to Cardiff Pass
Weather
Sky
Clear
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Stronger winds across the ridgelines and peaks. With temperatures in the teens to 20F, it definately felt cold in the shade and wind.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
A quick trip up to Cardiff pass to look at the older snow that fell in early November. The older snow is all faceted. This older snow is very limited in depth and coverage - lingering only on upper elevation (above about 9,500 feet), on northwest, north and northeast facing slopes.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow

There is about 1 to 2" of new snow above the faceted, early November snow. The faceted old snow has just enough depth and coverage across slopes that I expect we'll get avalanches once we get a slab of new snow on top. Again, it is very limited - the only places with old snow are upper elevation slopes, facing northwest, north and northeast.

Snowgeek note - in some places there is a crust capping the old snow, with small facet chains below the crust.

Today's Observed Danger Rating
None
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Low