Observation: Cardiff/Mineral

Observation Date

1/16/2026

Observer Name

Maushund

Region

Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Cardiff/Mineral

Location Name or Route

LCC > Cardiff > Mineral

Weather

Sky

Clear

Weather Comments

Mostly calm, clear, and with below freezing temps. Light NW wind at ridgeline. While there was evidence of past warming on solars, did not observe any new signs by my exit at 14:00.

Snow Characteristics

New Snow Depth

10"

New Snow Density

Low

Snow Surface Conditions

Dense Loose

Faceted Loose

Wind Crust

Melt-Freeze Crust

Snow Characteristics Comments

In my travels up and into Cardiff to Mineral to the Mineral/Mill B ridgeline, I observed a progressively well-settled, stable snowpack. No signs of recent avalanche activity outside of small, past wet loose from warmer temps during our period of high pressure since last weekend. Traveling all parts of the compass, there's the full variety of surfaces. The beginnings of near-surface faceting on protected slopes was the most notable, with melt-freeze crusts varying in thickness and supportability based on micro-aspect and angle on solars, as well as an aspect-dependent thin wind crust above 9200'.

While there was evidence of past and minimal recent wind transport from the N/NW winds, the small wind slabs observed in upper elevations above 9300' were small and unreactive—pasted on would be the best way to put it, and the alpine is "wind sculpted". These ranged from soft (1F) to firm (P+) but weren't supportable to skis. These were not concerns in my travel.

I observed very isolated surface hoar in protected areas near valley bottom.

Comments

My main takeaway from the day was the surface weakening on cooler, protected slopes. This will be the number one thing I will be keeping an eye on throughout the rest of this period of high pressure—or "ferocious ridge" as Larry Dunn called it—until our next loading event. Other residual weaknesses in the snowpack (basal, CERC) continue to heal. I observed and traveled like it was LOW danger.

Photos:

#1 Wind-sculpted alpine with plenty of evidence of slope testing

#2 Light wind transport filled in a recent skintrack in a matter of hours. Bonus points for whoever can ID which friend shared the path

#3 Toward Kessler on the Cardiff/Mineral ridgeline

#4 Toward Mill B from Cardiff/Mineral ridgeline

#5 Toward Mill B from Mineral/Mill B ridgeline

Happy to know that bi-canyon hitchhiking is in fact, still a thing in the Wasatch.