Observation: Cardiff Fork

Observation Date
2/18/2019
Observer Name
Hardesty, Hampden
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Cardiff Fork
Location Name or Route
Cardiff Fork
Weather
Sky
Broken
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
East
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Cold with cool east to northeast winds.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Wind Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
Skiing quite good with some wind damage in the exposed upper elevation terrain.
Red Flags
Red Flags Comments
None.
Comments
Some minor cracking noted up to 4-6" deep in upper elevations but isolated to around skis. 48 hour wind drifts inert in upper East Mineral and High Ivory. Feel that the core is mostly stable, but odd and outlier avalanches may exist. Ski and sled tracks everywhere. Cornices and cornice triggers remain of concern.
Most interesting snow was down at the lower elevations where 12cm of snow sits over a 1cm rain crust from Thursday. The snow above the crust will continue to weaken with cold temps and some clearing. Facets are developing beneath this crust (obvious and easy failures beneath this crust) and these interfaces will be something to watch in the coming days .
Photos:
Crust
Low elev structure as described
Very isolated cracking around skis
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
None