Observation Date
1/31/2015
Observer Name
mark white
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Cardiff Fork
Location Name or Route
Cardiac Ridge
Weather
Sky
Few
Wind Direction
North
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Light north wind in the drainage, moderate on the peaks, Some nice plumes of snow moving on Superior and LSB. Warm in the sun, not badf in the shade, low clouds working there way up LLC in the afternoon.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
3"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Dense Loose
Wind Crust
Melt-Freeze Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments

Seemed to be about 3 inches of new snow on Cardiac Ridge deeper where wind funneled it into depressions, scoured to the old crust on prominent ribs and ridge lines. New snow was of medium density, and a bit winded in some terrain.

Comments

Went to Cardiac Ridge for a look at what the new 3 inches did for skiing, it did improve it a bit, still dust on crust though. Thought some of the new wind slabs might be reactive but found that they were fairly welded in place. Wet activity was kept mostly at bay by cool north winds, did note some roller balls in lower elevation terrain. The new snow was sluffing on the steeper north facing aspects, but no action on the E-NE facing. The set up on the Ridge appeared to be the new snow sitting on a rotting wind crust with a layer of facets under that. No real red flags today, might get some minor wet activity tomorrow with warming. Photos, sluffing in the steep northern aspects, North wind transporting snow on LSB and Cardiac Bowl, dust on crust at its finest

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