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Observation: Cardiff Fork

Observation Date
12/19/2025
Observer Name
CBrown
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Cardiff Fork
Location Name or Route
Powerline Ridge
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Wind Speed
Calm
Weather Comments
Warm temps, overcast skies, and light winds gusting to moderate SW this morning with a few graupel pellets falling around 8:30.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Density
High
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Faceted Loose
Wind Crust
Melt-Freeze Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments

Real mixed bag of conditions. South-facing slopes had some unsupportable crust covered by a bit of graupel on low-angle slopes with supportable MF crust with some graupel on top on steeper slopes. Northerly facing slopes had a wind slab-esque unsupportable "crust' (suspected warm snow surface that was refreezing) on many open slopes below 9,900' observed down to 9,000'. Gladed areas had slightly better conditions with more supportable dense graupel and powder.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Basal facets still reactive in some snowpits.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments

Basal facets are still reactive, showing propagation in some pits in NW-N-NE. Did not show propagation in all pits. No recent avalanche activity noted.

Snow Profile
Aspect
Northwest
Elevation
9,800'
Slope Angle
26°
Comments

Very little coverage in Mill D South/Cardiff fk. Maybe the lowest I've seen this time of year in 20+ years. More reminicent of October coverage

Today's Observed Danger Rating
Low
Coordinates
Snow Pilot URL