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Observation Date
12/30/2013
Observer Name
Kendall-Kobernik
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Cardiff Fork » East Kessler
Location Name or Route
Cardiff Fork- Kessler
Weather
Sky
Few
Wind Direction
South
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Wind gusts along the ridges kept temperatures cool today. Sunny protected areas were warm. Nice day.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Faceted Loose
Wind Crust
Melt-Freeze Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments

Near surface faceting was prevalent on all non-solar aspects. This faceting has advanced significantly over the last two days almost to the point of sluffing when disturbed. Scattered mid-slope wind crusts made for a few interesting turns. A melt freeze crust was seen on southerly aspects with some patches of damp snow by the afternoon.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Ski poles would punch all the way through to the ground in many areas. On multiple turns our ski tails punched through to the depth hoar. The snowpack is rotting from the top all the way down to meet the existing buried facets. Gross...
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments

Things are not near as touchy now. A week of high pressure has relaxed the slab and the faceting has started to weaken the slab also. It should be noted that a local skier who lives very close to Mt Kessler continues to avoid steeper slopes that potentially still have a slab over facets that may fail.

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