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Observation: Cardiff Fork

Observation Date
12/17/2014
Observer Name
Wilson
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Cardiff Fork
Location Name or Route
Cardiff/(Low) High Ivory
Weather
Sky
Broken
Wind Speed
Calm
Weather Comments
Became progressively cloudier throughout the morning, with the lightest of snowfall around 2.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
6"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Dense Loose
Faceted Loose
Wind Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
In lower Cardiff drainage the typical hoar-frost-dazzle was on full display. The crystals became smaller and increasingly replaced by decomposing stellars as we climbed up the east-facing slope under high ivory. Most of the slope had a thin (but-variable) wind-skin, which none-the-less skied really well. Climbing steeper pitches oustside of the track was an experiment in slipping backwards, but free of any collapsing or shooting cracks. We did stop to drum on a hollow, well-developed wind pillow before ripping skins and skiing off in a different direction.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Wind Loading
Red Flags Comments
The reported repeater had us conscious of the potential for outlier avalanches, but the snowpack structure continues to show signs of improvement with damp welding squares at the basement level. Compression tests suggested that the 6 inches of new powder might slide on wind-crust within the new or on a 3 cm heat crust with small squares below, but such an event should be manageable and spatially limited. Surface felt damper as we skied out, as if picking up humidity from the air.
Snow Profile
Aspect
Northeast
Elevation
9,800'
Slope Angle
30°
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Low
Coordinates

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