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Observation: Cardiff Fork

Observation Date
12/3/2014
Observer Name
Josh Beckner
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Cardiff Fork
Location Name or Route
United States
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Snowfall ranged from a rate of 1-2cm/hour to nothing.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
1"
New Snow Density
High
Snow Surface Conditions
Dense Loose
Snow Characteristics Comments
Dry new snow was found from about 9,400 and up on non-solar aspects. On solar aspects, the snow was damp from 8,600' up to about 10k. The new moist snow was bonding very well to the older snow surface on all aspects. No wind loading was observed.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
All of the basal facets and/or depth hoar we found was rounding and ranged from wet to slightly damp, depending on the aspect and elevation.
Video
This ECT did not fail with 30 or less taps. It failed with the 32nd tap when I wailed on it pretty hard. The small 'tree' in front of the block didn't actually have it's branches in the block, though it looks like it does in the vid. In addition to this test, we found easy to moderate hand shears on similar aspects (N to NE). We got one column test with a score of 15 and one with a score of 23. All tests had resistant planer shears (Q2ish). Multiple ski cuts produced nothing. With this warming trend, things seem to be stabilizing below 10,000 feet, especially compared to last week. Hopefully it doesn't start rotting out again before the next storm...
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate