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Observation: Cardiff Fork

Observation Date
1/24/2018
Observer Name
chester
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Cardiff Fork
Location Name or Route
Cardiff Fork
Weather
Sky
Clear
Wind Direction
South
Wind Speed
Strong
Weather Comments
the big story for today was wind, very little wind till 10 then it came. shook snow off trees, almost tipped me over, guessing there was a gust to 40 mph. seemed to back off a bit in an hour but still transporting snow to midslope. sw thru se
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Dense Loose
Wind Crust
Melt-Freeze Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
south side of the compass did not bake as much yesterday as I thought. quite a bit of variability mostly due to wind. in the flats, snowboard would edge lock, nose would try to bottom ride, had to be on back foot hard. green runs too slow to have fun, took a blue square. tracks were filling in quite well midslope and higher.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Wind Loading
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Our party of 3 intentionally triggered 4 very small wind slabs (10' widex8"deep ran 10 to 50 feet) on a cross loaded east facing slope on the n side of small noses. location was skiers right of cardiac Ridge run where small trees start to pepper the slope. s facing, eben with heating yesterday, still a little bit of snow still avail for transport, little superior saw s wind blowing snow up and over ridge. skinner and tracks filling in 45 minutes mid slope. lower was out of wind.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
previously mentioned 4 small windslabs.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
Previously mentioned. Impressed with how most are dialing it back a bit this year. for tommorow, gonna check the box for recent loading past 48 hours.
I picked considerable for tomm, due to forcast with more snow avail for transport, continued winds forcast.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable