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Observation: Salt Lake

Observation Date
1/12/2023
Observer Name
CB
Region
Salt Lake
Location Name or Route
Cardiff Fork, Superior
Weather
Sky
Few
Wind Direction
Northwest
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Mostly CLR skies in the morning with increasing high clouds through the afternoon. Calm winds to light NW winds on the high ridge lines.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Dense Loose
Wind Crust
Melt-Freeze Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
Steeper SE-S-SW took heat today, lower angle and protected SE stayed cold, E stayed cold.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Red Flags Comments
There was a widespread SS and DL cycle mid-storm; many seemed to be early in the storm, with evidence mostly covered by snow. More recent was SS on SE facing Cardiac ridge where the skinner usually is. It looks like much of Cardiac ridge E/NE facing ran early in the storm with debris down to the flats (look at pictures below). It looked like there might have been a slightly deeper crown filled in on Cardiac Ridge (see photos below), not PWL deep. Much of the activity seemed to be on N-E and into SE. Superior had action most likely associated with the howitzer holes on slopes, nothing too deep, all storm snow. North-facing Superior ran later in the storm. Tested some 40*+ E/NE slopes with no slab activity; new snow/wind slabs seemed to have settled out quickly with this dense snow. There is a density inversion down about 6" in the new snow with stubborn hand shears and somewhat resistant when isolated with kick-turns. The cornice are getting bigger and cracking/calving off much further back than one would expect (see photo below).
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
Stubborn and unreactive by afternoon where traveled.
Comments
Pic 1 Shallow SS on Cardiac ridge and possible deeper buried crown
Pic 2 Extent of early/mid storm debris from Cardiac Ridge
Pic 3 SS W/S or storm slab on Monte Cristo
Pic 4 Deeper pocket on ENE Superior S Face
Pic 5 Growning Cornice
Pic 6 Crack/moat of calving cornice, much further back than the cornice looked to be over hanging
Pic 7 Wind affect in Mineral Fork
Video Hellgate natural at 10:45 am
Video
In a popular NE facing run, between 9,600'-9,800' I was burying my 320cm probe without hitting the ground. Alot of snow out there. Pictures of my buried probe
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
None
Coordinates