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Observation Date
3/18/2014
Observer Name
Fred
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Cardiff Fork
Location Name or Route
Cardiff Fork
Weather
Sky
Obscured
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
Northeast
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Instability shower throughout the day. Visability limited. Wind generally light N. NW.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
10"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments

Nice light snow sitting on a dirty damp sun or wind crust depending on aspect.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Collapsing
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
On the way up to poline pass I noticed a collaps near the Toledo guch when 5 of us were standing in one area. Thought little of it. The suncrust is stout. On the trip over to cardiac ridge noticed the wind crust (north faciing) was "punchy" with the ski pole. Dug a quick hand pit and could not isolate a collumn. On the asent Mark had several very large colapses. Pits dug near the top of Cardiac Ridge revealed a crust sandwich. Graupel above and below the crust. Unable to isolate any collumn. Also the snow below the powder was damp and dirty. We changed plan and kept our slope angle low.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Problem #1 Comments

poor snow pack structure. not a real deep slab but a slab none the less.

stability should increase quickly overnight.

general low hazard tomorrow with the exception for steep high north facing.

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