Snowpack

Observation: Cardiff Fork

WilsonSalt Lake
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Observation photo 1

Quick report

Aspect
Northeast
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches, Wind Loading
Elevation
2987 m
Slope Angle
30°
Red Flags Comment
<p>The reported repeater had us conscious of the potential for outlier avalanches, but the snowpack structure continues to show signs of improvement with damp welding squares at the basement level. Compression tests suggested that the 6 inches of new powder might slide on wind-crust within the new or on a 3 cm heat crust with small squares below, but such an event should be manageable and spatially limited. Surface felt damper as we skied out, as if picking up humidity from the air.</p>

Snowpack

In lower Cardiff drainage the typical hoar-frost-dazzle was on full display. The crystals became smaller and increasingly replaced by decomposing stellars as we climbed up the east-facing slope under high ivory. Most of the slope had a thin (but-variable) wind-skin, which none-the-less skied really well. Climbing steeper pitches oustside of the track was an experiment in slipping backwards, but free of any collapsing or shooting cracks. We did stop to drum on a hollow, well-developed wind pillow before ripping skins and skiing off in a different direction.