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Observation: Cardiff Pass

Observation Date
12/21/2014
Observer Name
Jake Hutchinson
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » Cardiff Pass
Location Name or Route
Below Cardiff pass Alta Side
Weather
Sky
Obscured
Precipitation
Heavy Snowfall
Wind Direction
West
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
We dug in a sheltered area but it was nuking all around us
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
6"
New Snow Density
High
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments

New snow was forming a nice soft slab due to crystal type and temp - rimed particles and needles

Red Flags
Red Flags
Heavy Snowfall
Wind Loading
Cracking
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Obvious storm red flags, but localized cracking around skis in new snow and continued poor structure
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments

We were out early before things got really ugly, but we saw no evidence of deeper layers becoming active again, although I wouldn't be surprised if they did later

Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments

NSF or Basal facets could wake up tonight. Also, a small slab avalanche has the possibility to step down as the load is concentrated.

Snow Profile
Aspect
Southeast
Elevation
9,500'
Slope Angle
30°
Comments

5 lemons present in this pit, but only saw test results in new snow/old snow interface. .5-2cm graupel from either yesterday afternoon or early stages of this storm seemed to be the weakest link.

Video

Messed around with the horizontal PST after hearing about it at ISSW. This result was less dramatic than the other two, which seems to always be the case when you roll film. Interestingly enough, when we performed the traditional PST, we got Slab Fracture at 50cm.

After the first ECTP - shows depth of new snow soft slab.

Showing slab thickness where ECT was propagating, photo below shows localized cracking

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