Observation: Cardiff Fork

Observation Date
11/26/2014
Observer Name
mark white
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Cardiff Fork
Location Name or Route
Cardiff Fork
Weather
Sky
Few
Weather Comments
Warm, clear and sunny.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
1"
New Snow Density
High
Snow Surface Conditions
Dense Loose
Wind Crust
Rain-Rime Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments

Down below about 7500ft snow was damp and saturated, once up to about 8700ft snow was dense and dry with about 3 to 4 inches ski penetration.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Wind Loading
Poor Snowpack Structure
Comments

Had not got a close look of the upper bowls of Cardiff Fork since the storm, Snow was saturated until almost reaching the mine From the BCC side. Once I broke out into the open It became apparent that there was one new avalanche that had pulled out naturally last night or this morning, I put that one on the avy list. Also of note was that the entire ridge had avalanched wall to wall during the weekend storm except the strip right down the middle that had avalanched before the storm which I put on the avy list last week. Between the new dense snow and the wind things have filled in nicely, Today is the first day since the storm that I haven't experienced any cracking or collapsing, things are settling out and adjusting but I still would not trust any steep, high W through N through E facing slopes that have not avalanched. The dense and supportable snow makes skiing the low angle a great option. Photos, Whole ridge, old slide that occurred during the week end storm, saturated snow under 8000ft, low angle love.

Considerable high steep W through N through E Moderate in other terrain

Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable