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Avalanche: Cardiff Peak

Observer Name
Kelly, Richards & AW
Observation Date
Sunday, December 15, 2024
Avalanche Date
Sunday, December 15, 2024
Region
Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » Cardiff Peak
Location Name or Route
Cardiff Chutes
Elevation
9,800'
Aspect
Northeast
Trigger
Snowboarder
Trigger: additional info
Unintentionally Triggered
Avalanche Type
Soft Slab
Avalanche Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Weak Layer
Facets
Depth
16"
Width
40'
Vertical
400'
Comments
Below information from AW:
A group of four snowboarders triggered a sizable wind slab at the bottom of one of the little chutes on Cardiff peak. Much snow was entrained but thankfully no one was swept up in it. We made a brief visit to the site on our way down. We found a stout wind slab across the entire slope, large cracks visible in the bootpack the previous party set up the chute. A quick excavation by my partner found a dense base covered by fresh snow, the wind slab capping off the snowpack. As we left the area my partner noticed shooting cracks come from my skis while I remarked I might have heard a whumpf.
Coordinates