Observation: Cardiff Fork

Observation Date
12/18/2015
Observer Name
mark white
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Cardiff Fork
Location Name or Route
Cardiff Fork
Weather
Sky
Clear
Weather Comments
Unusually warm, not much wind to mention.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Rain-Rime Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments

Rime crust fairly stout at 7200ft, turning to a zipper crust around 9800ft which was as high as I got. Damp snow on any aspect with South in it.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Cracking
Collapsing
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Still getting localized cracking and collapsing in upper Cardiff Fork, Stayed clear of avalanche run out zones for the most part, I have little trust in the snow pack on high, steep E through W facing slopes in upper Cardiff.
Comments

Walked up Cardiff Fork from BCC to have a look at what had occurred during the storm, saw a large natural avalanche off Cardiac Ridge which I put on the Avy page. Like I said still getting cracking and collapsing in the upper reaches of Cardiff Fork and the snow pack structure has not improve except where it has already avalanched. Skiing quality has gone down hill with Wednesdays wind and Thursday nights rime event. Not really worth the risk to ski rime crusted snow.

Photos: rime crust at about 7400ft

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