Observation Date
3/4/2015
Observer Name
Tyler Falk
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Cardiff/Mineral
Location Name or Route
Alta to Cardiff to Mineral
Weather
Sky
Clear
Wind Direction
Northwest
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Clear day with moderate gusts on upper elevation ridgelines.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
20"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments
Around 20" of new snow in our travels today in upper Cardiff and Mineral. Noticed a zipper crust at the 7k elevation on east aspects by the time we were exiting. All aspects at lower elevations had moist snow by 3pm on our exit from Mineral Fork.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Heavy Snowfall
Wind Loading
Cracking
Collapsing
Red Flags Comments
We saw many storm slabs or possible wind slab avalanches from the prior day, likely due to high PI rates and wind loading durring the height of the storm. At one point we counted eight slides that we could see, mostly on upper elevation east aspects. Many of which were in Mill B. Some sluffing off turns in steeper terrain. A few collapses and shoting cracks noticed out there aswell. One collapse noticed while walking up east facing cardiac ridge.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
Persistent slabs were the number one concern that my partner and I talked about on the drive up LCC yesterday. We believe that is what we unfortunately triggered yesterday. See the avalanche list for my write up on this HS-ASu-R2-D2 that I triggered in Mongo No. A quick look of the bed surface showed 1.5mm facets. Could not be sure if any of the other slides we saw were Persistent slabs aswell.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
I figured a few of the slides on high east aspects were from the NW winds. A few were mid slope.
Photo 1. Mid slope pocket that pulled out on Cardiac.
Photo 2. Lots of point releases around
Photo 3. Slide in Mill B
Photo 4. A few other slides in Mill B
Photo 5. A slide on a more North aspect also in Mill B.
Photo 6. Mongo No Slide
One of the more active days in a while out there. Credit goes to UAC for the accurate forecast of persistent slab problem on high east aspects for the morning of 3/4/15.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
