Observation: Cardiff Fork

Observation Date
3/24/2017
Observer Name
mark white
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Cardiff Fork
Location Name or Route
Cardiff Fork
Weather
Sky
Clear
Wind Direction
Northwest
Wind Speed
Calm
Weather Comments
Cool and clear in the AM, rapidly warming temperatures in the early afternoon.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
8"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Wind Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments

Seemed like there was about 8 inches of new light density snow from yesterday and Wednesdays night resting on the dense 5 inches from the day before. Snow started to get damp on the SE facing around 10:00am then worked its way around to E,S and W as the day continued, I would think most all aspects except the northerly ones will have some degree of crust in the AM. There was also some terrain with a wind skin or crust, LSB comes to mind.

Comments

Dry snow sluffing in the steeper terrain was not quite as sensitive as yesterday but was still a issue in tight radical terrain, in most other terrain it was manageable with ski cuts and not packing much of a punch. Wet activity started right on cue on the SE facing around 10:00-10:30, these wet snow slides were larger than the dry ones naturally occurring and leaving bigger debris piles. We did the usual spring time rotation starting with S early then moving to E, NE, and due N by 1:00pm, we did have to exit out S which was fully manked by 1:30pm.

Photos: skier triggered and natural wet and dry activity from today

Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate