Observation Date
4/4/2015
Observer Name
Bruce Tremper
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Cardiff Fork
Location Name or Route
Cardiac Bowl from Alta
Weather
Sky
Clear
Wind Direction
West
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
I just got out for a nice day in the mountains with my wife after being cooped up in the office all week. Beautiful day with a few high clouds, a moderate wind from the west and temperatures in the upper 20's
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Melt-Freeze Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments

Dust on crust conditions with sun exposed slopes turning damp to wet in the afternoon. The shady aspects kept a couple inches of dry snow on to of a wide variety of old surfaces ranging from ice to breakable crust. It was actually pretty good turning conditions on the right slopes with just a little cream on top to smooth things out. The steeper, north facing slopes were quite crunchy and icy underneath so it was much better on gentler terrain with just a hint of sun. The cool wind kept the southerly aspects from getting too soggy in the afternoon. Very few people in the backcountry. We only saw one other party of two and we ran into a friend who just returned from pole line pass. But things are looking pretty lonely out there, even on a sunny Saturday. Just the way I like it.

Red Flags
Red Flags Comments
No red flags. Mostly low danger everywhere. Strong wind from the southwest is forecast for Monday but there's just not much snow to blow around, so it shouldn't have much effect. Any wind slab development will probably be above 10,000' where there's still a skiff of dry snow.
Comments

Dust on crust in Cardiac Bowl

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