Observation Date
1/30/2025
Observer Name
Gagne/Johnston
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Cardiff/Silver/Days
Location Name or Route
Cardiff and Days Forks
Comments
Travel today was Alta -> Cardiff Fork -> Spruces -> Days Fork -> Alta. We were able to look at all aspects between 7,500'-10,500'
The avalanche danger is currently Low, but with such weak snow at the surface, the avalanche danger will quickly rise with the upcoming weekend storm. We saw widespread weak, faceted snow in the top 10-20 cms of the snowpack on northerly and east-facing slopes, with some near-surface facets on upper elevation southeast aspects. On slopes that had previously avalanched (which includes much of Days Fork), the snowpack was shallow (45-60 cms) thick and all facets.
What was especially interesting is we came across a fresh avalanche in Two Dogs on a slope that had previously avalanched in early January. This was apparently a remotely-triggered slide as we saw ski tracks above the crown. This was s small avalanche (30-45 cms/12-18" deep) and at most 15' wide, but it is a sign that it will not take much of a new load for avalanches on slopes that have previously avalanched.
Photos of Two Dogs avalanche and video discussion of current snow surface and the problems we can expect with the upcoming storm.
Video
Today's Observed Danger Rating
None
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
None
Coordinates