Avalanche
- Trigger Type
- Natural
- Start Zone Aspect
- East
- Start Zone Elevation
- 3231 m
Weather in Cardiff today was about 28* on the superior ridge at 11am. Snow surfaces ranged from damp to dry depending on aspect. Our runs off Cardiff Peak and Powerline Ridge were all dry loose powder.
On Cardiac Ridge we witnessed two relatively small loose avalanches (perhaps D1.5) but they ran a long way, a few hundred feet at least, in popular terrain and across a skin track. All upper elevation east facing alpine terrain. The first photo is a dry loose (likely triggered from warming) that pulled out from the upper quarter of Thunderstruck Couloir and ran almost to the bottom of the apron. We saw this happen in real time and while it was running relatively slowly, it would have ruined your day. This released right around 12pm. The second photo happened between 11:30 and 12. A solo skier narrowly avoided this one. Similarly, I don’t think it was enough snow to bury a human but definitely cause an injury.
No huge suprise with the temps spiking, but just a heads up.