Observation Date
1/25/2021
Observer Name
CBrown
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » Cardiff Pass
Location Name or Route
LCC Ridge-Cardiff
Weather
Sky
Broken
Wind Direction
South
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Light winds along the ridgeline, felt SSE. Went from SCT-OVC/X. A few sun breaks, in the light cloud at times. Cold temps, but warm in the sun. Low angle south appeared to stay cold up to 14:00 exit. Steeper south seemed to take a little heat and/or little greenhouse. W had a little zipper on it from yesterday (I assume) and also was slightly heavier. E stayed cold. Could see the S and W potentially bouncing back overnight with cold clear night.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
14"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Dense Loose
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
Red Flags
Red Flags
Rapid Warming
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Stayed on the sunny side of life today. No blowing snow/wind loading despite some steady light winds and light density snow. Snow still feels "untouched" by the wind. With these light winds I could see the possibility of some wind-pressed slab formed? Observed a natural cycle on the easterlies of Cardiac Ridge, appeared to go mid storm within new snow, up to size 1.5.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
New snow seems to be behaving fairly well with the lack of sun/warming today. Not much sluffing noted even in >35* terrain. Did not observe any wet activity as of 14:00, expect when the sun pops for good this will change. Same with wind, still lack of wind has no wind slab formation, expect to change when winds ramp up.
Comments
A miracle we still haven't had winds. Riding conditions are phenomenal, but I dread the uptick of the wind or even the sun. Souths will see some wet loose when the sun makes a solid experience (hard to imagine it's already 1/25, sun is starting to get stronger). As mentioned before, I think the wind will change things quick as far as the stability/instability goes, nice to see limited AX activity into old snow iwth a solid 1"+ of water put on the fragile pack.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
None
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
None
Coordinates
