Observation Date
3/4/2015
Observer Name
mark white
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Cardiff Fork
Location Name or Route
Cardiff Fork
Weather
Sky
Clear
Wind Direction
North
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Cold north wind blowinfg in the AM, warmed up out of the wind in the afternoon.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
19"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments

There was about 18 to 20 inches of light density powder in Cardiff from the last storm cycle. East and the south end of the compass were getting damp as the day heated up.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Heavy Snowfall
Wind Loading
Collapsing
Comments

It was a interesting day in the mountains today, numerous skier triggered slides occurring through out the day and some good viewing of naturals from the previous day. Noted old naturals from yesterday on Cardiac Ridge, and the Ivory Rock slabs, also got a good look at the skier triggered slide in the Ivory Rock Slabs which I put on the Avy page, all seemed to be wind loaded NE-E facing slopes that got loaded by the NW winds from yesterday and last night. Sluffing in steeper terrain was also noted. Today was the first day in many months that I experienced multiple collapses in north east facing terrain upon digging down it was clear that the collapsing was occurring on a crust facet sandwich from one of last weeks little storms, wet activity seemed to be kept fairly minor by the north wind but I wasn't around much south facing in the afternoon. My friend Brad Makoff also mentioned a large slide in the apron of the Room of Doom in Mineral fork and many of the NE facing paths below that. Photos, North wind on the Twins in the AM, natural avalanches on Cardiac Ridge, and another one off the rock slabs on the ridge, also a slide from yesterday on SE facing High Ivory.

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