Observation Date
2/28/2015
Observer Name
Greg Gagne
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Cardiff Fork
Location Name or Route
Cardiff Fork
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Wind Direction
East
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Easterly winds were stronger than expected, and quite strong along the ridgetops.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Wind Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments

Several fresh soft wind slabs from Easterly winds, with some cross-loading as well down off ridgelines. Upper elevation terrain that faces West is suspect for fresh wind loading.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments

Easterly winds were creating small pockets of wind drifted snow and were mostly found on lee Westward aspects. They were 20-30 cms (4-6") and 4F hard and quite sensitive to ski cuts. Am calling the trend to remain the same as the Cottonwood canyon forecast isn't showing a decrease in wind speeds.

Comments

Travel today was Cardiff (Poleline) Pass, Powerridge, Cardiac Ridge, High Ivory. We had intended on dropping into Black Ebony and exiting through Mineral, but the E/SE winds were drifting snow onto NW aspects and it was clear drifting was also occurring well down the ridgelines, so a well-placed ski cut at the top didn't mean you wouldn't find drifting down lower, so a change in plans and we exited through Cardiff Fork which allowed us to avoid upper elevation wind-loaded aspects.

Was a bit surprised to see as much wind affect as we did, and we triggered several class 1 (rather small) slides in fresh wind-drifted snow.

It is likely wind drifting wasn't necessarily widespread as we noticed several parties skiing without incident in Cardiac Bowl.

Outside of wind-affected terrain, the ski conditions are quite good. The lighter density snow from Friday firmed up a bit and softened the old, crusted snow surface.

I would call the hazard mostly Low, but Moderate in areas that have fresh wind drifts, these are likely to be found on West and Northwest aspects at upper elevations.

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