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Avalanche: Cardiff Fork

Observer Name
Stauss/Ratliff
Observation Date
Monday, February 28, 2022
Avalanche Date
Monday, February 28, 2022
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Cardiff Fork
Location Name or Route
Cardiff
Elevation
10,600'
Aspect
East
Trigger
Natural
Depth
Unknown
Width
Unknown
Comments
Weather in Cardiff today was about 28* on the superior ridge at 11am. Snow surfaces ranged from damp to dry depending on aspect. Our runs off Cardiff Peak and Powerline Ridge were all dry loose powder.
On Cardiac Ridge we witnessed two relatively small loose avalanches (perhaps D1.5) but they ran a long way, a few hundred feet at least, in popular terrain and across a skin track. All upper elevation east facing alpine terrain. The first photo is a dry loose (likely triggered from warming) that pulled out from the upper quarter of Thunderstruck Couloir and ran almost to the bottom of the apron. We saw this happen in real time and while it was running relatively slowly, it would have ruined your day. This released right around 12pm. The second photo happened between 11:30 and 12. A solo skier narrowly avoided this one. Similarly, I don’t think it was enough snow to bury a human but definitely cause an injury.
No huge suprise with the temps spiking, but just a heads up.