Observation Date
3/30/2019
Observer Name
Gagne/Heilweil/Frey/Johnston
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Cardiff/Mineral
Location Name or Route
Cardiff/Mineral
Comments
Route was Cardiff via BCC, with some runs on east aspects in mid Cardiff, as well as northwest aspects in Mineral. Storm snow has settled down to 30 cms, approaching 45 cms above 10,000' Unreactive to stability tests, and has settled out and stabilized nicely. The few wind drifts we found were also unreactive to stability tests. There were quite a few parties riding steeper, east-facing lines in Mineral, triggering numerous, very long-running sluffs (1200'). Video below.
Video
We left the canyon by 1 pm, and solar aspects were getting damp, but we were not seeing any widespread wet activity. I was able to ski cut a steeper, west-facing aspect and all the storm snow ran on the old crust (video below). Wet activity seems to be the biggest issue for Sunday.
Video
Shallow, skier-triggered soft-slab on steep northwest aspect at the top of Dark Ebony.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate