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Observation: Cardiff Bowl

Observation Date
3/29/2016
Observer Name
C Brown
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » Cardiff Bowl
Location Name or Route
Cardiff Bowl
Weather
Sky
Broken
Wind Direction
Southeast
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Light to Moderate winds towards Pole line pass before noon, calming to light after noon, SSE most of the morning but feeling SW around 1pm when skiing out. Broken to Overcast skies. Sun would pop out for less than a minute at a time. Sun was strong when it came out, watched roofalanche within 30 sec of sun hitting the roof.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
14"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Dense Loose
Snow Characteristics Comments

New snow on the Eastern aspect of Cardiff Bowl was upside down. Definitely bottom feeding and feeling the hard bottom but was still present skiing. Surface snow was light density then a denser layer with light snow below (see profile from hand pit below). Snow on the SE was shallower and much more wind affected and variable.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Wind Loading
Cracking
Red Flags Comments
Saw some cracking in the wind affected slabby snow. Only saw one shooting crack though. Light to moderate wind transport in the morning observed espically on ridgelines, calming some as I was leaving around 1pm.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Problem #1 Comments

Observed, from a distance, pockets of what appeared to be natural wind slab pockets that went very recently. There were some ski tracks in the vicinity of these, so possibly remote triggered. Observed an avalanche in one of the Cardiff chutelettes that appeared to have happened during the storm and been reloaded but wind transport.

Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments

Storm slab still seemed sensitive today, but would expect it to settle out soon. Observed crust facet sandwiches that Drew mentioned in the forecast this morning. Saw three crusts forming two sandwiches totaling about 20 cm thickness. Did not observe any avalanches that stepped down.

Snow Profile
Aspect
East
Elevation
9,800'
Comments

Resistance of quick pit in the top 55 cm of the snow pack East aspect Cardiff bowl.

Picture of roofalanche after sun hit the building.

Pocket that popped out in the Emma's in the bottom center of picture.

Avalanche in the Cardiff chutelettes.

Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
None