Observation: Cardiff Fork

Observation Date

11/23/2025

Observer Name

Maushund

Region

Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Cardiff Fork

Location Name or Route

Cardiff Fork > Cardiac Bowl > Cardiff Pass

Weather

Sky

Clear

Wind Speed

Calm

Weather Comments

Calm, clear, and cold afternoon to go walk up high. Temps were just below freezing at the trailhead, and dropped further as I gained elevation towards Cardiff Pass. The lowest I measured was 26°F at 9750' near the head of the drainage.

Snow Characteristics

New Snow Depth

10"

New Snow Density

Low

Snow Surface Conditions

Faceted Loose

Snow Characteristics Comments

Traveling up Cardiff Fork from BCC, continuous snow coverage started near 8700', with 1-3 inches of loose, faceted snow. Most snow on valley bottom up to ~9000' had 2-3mm surface hoar, overlaying a thin, eggshell-like temperature crust, over varying sized facets to the ground. After peeking in towards Superior—to confirm there is continuous, well-connected snow above 10200' on N-NE aspects—I doubled back to head up Cardiff Pass. HS increased to 4-8" on northerly aspects I traveled, with pockets of HS 10" with similar spx structure.

Red Flags

Poor Snowpack Structure

Red Flags Comments

While not everywhere, on high northerlies above 9000', there is 4-10 inches of faceted, weak snow sitting out in large pockets, but often broken up by vegetation. On the highest north-facing slopes (10200'+) there are well-connected sheets of similar snow that are the most likely suspects for posing a future problem when the snow starts to fall.

Comments

Cardiac area/LSB area showing well-connected snow coverage on N/NNE slopes