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Observation: Cardiac Ridge

Observation Date
12/10/2024
Observer Name
mark white
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Cardiff Fork » Cardiac Ridge
Location Name or Route
Cardiff Fork, Cardiac Ridge
Weather
Sky
Clear
Wind Direction
Northwest
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Cold and clear, a few clouds working their way up LCC in the afternoon. Moderate to strong winds on the 11,000ft ridgelines, transporting snow.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
4"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Faceted Loose
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
There was 3 to 4 inches of new light density snow blanketing faceted loose snow, wind crust, and a melt freeze crust depending on location and aspect.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Poor Snowpack Structure
Snow Profile
Elevation
10,400'
Comments
Went to upper Cardiff Fork in hope of finding smoothed out slopes with soft snow underlying the new light density snow. In most of the terrain in Cardiac old tracks could be seen and felt while skiing but a few slopes were smoothed out and provided ok skiing. The poor snow structure is still the main red flag but without a slab on top it's become dormant, and continues to weaken. The wind was also blowing from the W-NW moving snow up high on the 11,000ft ridgelines and cross loading the 2 ventricles in Cardiac Bowl. Not enough of a load to changes things much but I wouldn't be surprised by a few random wind slabs forming up high and maybe releasing with a persons weight, most likely a far outlier of a chance.
Video
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Low
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Low
Coordinates