Lawine

Avalanche: Cardiff Pass

Mike NagleSalt Lake
Auf der Karte ansehen

Quick report

Slope Angle
37°

Avalanche

Slab Width
61 m
Weak Layer
Density Change
Trigger Type
Skier
Vertical Fall
61 m
Avalanche Type
Wet Slab
Slab Thickness
20 cm
Trigger Detail
Unintentionally Triggered
Start Zone Aspect
East
Avalanche Problem
New Snow

Just to add to the reports from yesterday. We found very sensitive new-snow slab conditions, with a density inversion the weak layer. Weather was windy and snowing hard, just above freezing, with poor visibility. On way up to Cardiff Pass two Alta Ski Patrolmen skied by, and told us that they had just triggered east-facing Cardiff Peak. Continuing up, we passed a slide that was about 200 yards across, at a mid-slope rollover next to the trail, triggered by a skier. When we got within sight, the Cardiff Peak slide was wall-to-wall. These slides did not run very far over lower-angle terrain, nor pile up too deeply, but the snow was heavy and it would not have been fun to be caught by one of these, or end up in a gully (like the one under Toledo Bowl.) From Cardiff Pass we saw that the east side of the ridge that separates East and West Cardiff had slid, we believe naturally, again wall-to-wall. Two of us skied back to Alta, another two entered Cardiff Fork. Later they told us that Cardiac Ridge had slid wall-to-wall, as well as another steep slope along the ridge between the weather station and LSB. Sorry we got no photos, as light was very poor.