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Observation: Cardiff Fork

Observation Date
2/14/2021
Observer Name
Chasen
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Cardiff Fork
Location Name or Route
Cardiff Fork
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Poor Snowpack Structure
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
20210122 January facet layer was buried right at 1 meter (100cm) where we dug a quick test pit 8600ft East facing in Cardiff Fork today. 1-2mm rounding facets made up the majority of the weak layer. While this layer is getting buried deeper it's certainly not something to sleep on. My pit showed about 35cm of 1F hardness sitting right on top of the weak layer. While this most recent storm has been mostly right side up so far, it has added a very significant amount of weight on what has already proven to be a nasty weak layer in our snowpack. More snow and wind on the way, this seems like despite it's depth in the snowpack, to be increasing in danger.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #2 Comments
Looked to be around 25cm of new snow overnight, much lighter density than what we were seeing at the beginning of this storm, falling onto higher density snow from the warmer temps Friday and Saturday. Kept the slope angles mellow, but was able to jump on a few test slopes with very little reactivity within the new snow. Much different from Friday late morning when the new snow was very reactive.
ECTN2 - 20cm down from the surface, within the new storm snow.
HS- 155cm
Comments
No signs of cracking or collapsing. We did see debris from what looked to be a good sized avalanche that came off the steep east facing terrain of Kessler, photos below. Difficult to make a judgement with the new snow that has fallen since the event, but my best estimate is HS-N-R3-D2.5-S. The chunks of debris and effected timber are what lead me to believe this slide stepped down below the new snow.
Dug a quick test pit at 8618ft, on an East facing slope. ECTN2 down 20cm
and ECTN22 down over a MF crust. Height of snow was 155cm.
Light winds out of the west, precip rate of S-1 off and on throughout the morning, temps in the single digits farenheit warming to low teens later in the morning. Broken to overcast skies. No signs of active loading, although there's certainly enough snow for transport for when our winds do ramp up. Low density powder, surface snow made up of primarily 3-5mm stellars. I dug a little over 100cm from the surface and found the January facets with a cohesive 1F slab on top. Mix of rounds and rounding facets made up the midpack. Best skiing of the season.
Video
Today's Observed Danger Rating
High
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
High
Coordinates