Observation Date
12/9/2017
Observer Name
mark white
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Cardiff Fork » LSB North
Location Name or Route
Little Superior Buttress NE facing
Weather
Sky
Clear
Wind Direction
Northwest
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Clear skies and the warmest temperatures we've seen in a week not much wind to speak of.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
9"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Faceted Loose
Wind Crust
Melt-Freeze Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments

Settled boot deep powder on the N end of the compass in wind protected terrain, wind crusts and thin wind slabs on E and NE facing exposed terrain, loose faceted snow on all aspects except S facing which had either a melt freeze crust or was damp depending on the time of day.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure
Comments

Headed into Cardiff fork via LCC looking for some skiable soft snow. decided to walk up LSB NE facing and dig a pit in the starting zone. A lot of snow pits get dug in representative test terrain but it sure is nice to look at the snow right in the starting zone of a large avalanche path. Total snow depth was around 2 and half feet, on a 37 degree slope, NE facing at 10400ft, that was not wind effected, the new snow has settled out to about 10 to 12 inches then a disintegrating crust then another 9 to 10 inches of lose small grain faceted snow, then an even weaker crust with 5 inches of large grain depth hoar at the bottom. Multiple tries at isolating a column all failed on the depth hoar at the ground. On the shady due N the snow has rotted out so much that it is close to being non supportable. The surface of the snow on the N end of the compass is also faceting rapidly thus making skinning a slippery chore.

Photos: Snow pit, depth hoar at the bottom, cracking in wind drifted terrain and I won't make a habit af putting track photos up but I think we could all use a little stoke on this tough winter so far.

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