Observation: Cardiac Ridge

Observation Date
11/21/2020
Observer Name
mark white
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Cardiff Fork » Cardiac Ridge
Location Name or Route
Cardiac Ridge
Weather
Sky
Clear
Wind Direction
West
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Clear skies, cold in the shade warm in the sun
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Faceted Loose
Wind Crust
Melt-Freeze Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
Damp or melt-freeze crust on the S end of the compass depending on time of day. Surface facets and breaking down windboard and sastrugi on the N end of the compass.
Comments
Went to Cardiac to see how rapidly the faceting process is going. On the high elevation N and NE the facet factory is running full blast, the windboard from a couple days ago is breaking down rapidly and the surface is becoming faceted and non cohesive. This is not a problem right now but as soon as we add a slab all bets will be off. We have the perfect set up for avalanches on these high N facing slopes, 1. A slick and smooth bed surface 2. A weak layer of non cohesive facets on the surface. With continued cold clear nights and a shallow snow pack the faceting process will keep going at an accelerated rate. South facing slopes and lower elevation slopes may be the go to terrain after the next decent storm.
photos: broken down and faceting windboard and sastrugi, surface facets and a video of the faceted surface.
Video
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Low
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Low