Observation: Cardiff/Mineral

Observation Date
3/22/2013
Observer Name
mark white
Region
Salt Lake
Location Name or Route
Cardiff, Mineral Fork
Weather
Sky
Obscured
Precipitation
Moderate Snowfall
Wind Direction
Northwest
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Cold, windy and snowy, epic spring powder day.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
5"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments

Not exactly sure how much it snowed today but guessing 6 or 7 inches of light density snow. Intense periods of snowfall mid -day lead to a period of shallow instability.

Comments

Travel today was Cardiff entering through the Key Hole, High Ivory, East Mineral. Intense periods of snowfall and gusty winds from the NW lead to some instability in the new snow from today, though in my opinion not as reactive as yesterday. Natural running soft slabs and sluffs were common place today as was skier initiated soft slabs and sluffs, but they were super shallow and not packing any punch. Got one soft slab to pull out on the other side of the Key Hole with a ski cut but it was only 3 to 4 inches deep, but it still alerted us that the new snow was not bonding well to yesterdays snow. Pics, Cowboy checking out the shallow soft slab I released with a ski cut in the Key Hole, natural instability in the new snow during intense snowfall, natural sluffing on Kessler, sluffing from our ski tracks in High Ivory.

Had pretty much all conditions today, wind, intense snowfall, and a little sun to boot.