Observation: Cardiff Fork

Observation Date
1/25/2023
Observer Name
Catino
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Cardiff Fork
Location Name or Route
Alta to Cardiff exiting BCC
Red Flags
Red Flags
Cracking
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
Wind drifts that cross loaded the upper ribs of Holy Toledo were stubborn to ski cuts from above but were cracking as I punched and stomped on them first thing in the morning.
Comments
Snow surface was around 20-30cm of very light stellars on nw and ne aspects. The snow today fell on top of some NSF on polars, but it’s all so light that I don’t think it’s capping/preserving in sheltered areas, perhaps a different story in areas that have thin wind slabs from previous days that are preserving them. No formal pits. A couple hasty pits while skinning up Toledo: 9600’ SW had a wind crust 1F hard with preserved stellars below - column broke on isolation. At 9800’ S there was a thin 4F minus solar crust - maybe RR or thin MFcr with preserved stellars below as well. The steeper southerlies have a variety of this mixed bag, and these potential problems aren't widespread, but seems like it's worth tracking before the next load arrives.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
Coordinates