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Observation: Cardiff Bowl

Observation Date
12/27/2021
Observer Name
Bill Nalli
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » Cardiff Bowl
Location Name or Route
Cardiff Bowl
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
3"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Characteristics Comments
Moderate snowfall in the morning added up to 3 inches by noon. Accumulation was spotty due to the strong SW wind that was scouring and depositing erratically. The wind processed new snow was mostly being stripped from the south aspects and deposited onto the north-facing slopes along the Cottonwood ridgeline. Occasional swirling winds were slowly loading E and NE aspects of Cardiff Bowl. Riding conditions were good despite the wind damage.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Heavy Snowfall
Wind Loading
Cracking
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
With the exception of some minor cracking in the new snow, no obvious signs of instability were noted. Snow depths vary across aspects with south-facing and wind-exposed ridgeline terrain having less than one meter and NE and E aspects 120-150cm. E aspects have slightly better structure than NE due to less old faceted snow. I tickled a few NE aspects with no results but I also wasn't willing to get very far onto the slopes to do it. With the slab continuing to build on top of the widespread weak layer, the hazard will continue to rise. When the snowpack structure is the problem, terrain is always the answer. For now, choosing slopes less than 35 degrees and aspects without early season snow is the key to longevity.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
High
Coordinates