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Observation: Cardiff Fork

Observation Date
11/20/2024
Observer Name
Champion & Miller
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Cardiff Fork
Location Name or Route
Cardiff Fork
Weather
Sky
Few
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Cold temperatures and clear skies this morning gradually transitioned to sunny skies and warmer temperatures. Winds remained southwest throughout the day, generally calm to light in Cardiff Fork at lower and mid-elevations. However, flagging was visible along ridgelines, and upper-elevation terrain showed evidence of previous wind effects. By the afternoon, scattered clouds began moving into the canyon.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Dense Loose
Wind Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
The snow surface remained cold and soft in most areas following yesterday's recent snowfall.
The snowpack is still thin, with just enough coverage to ski back to the car if you stick to the primary ribbon of travel. In the upper reaches of Cardiff Fork, high-elevation, sheltered, northerly-facing terrain offered soft turns, but I remain cautious about what lies just beneath the surface. Snow depths varied from exposed shrubs and a few shallow inches on southerly aspects to 25–35 inches on shaded northerly slopes, with an average of 10–25 inches above mid-elevation terrain.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
A poor snowpack structure from the pre-Halloween storms, as noted by many observers, remains a concern.
Snow Profile
Aspect
East
Elevation
8,700'
Slope Angle
32°
Comments
We primarily went out to assess snow coverage mid-canyon and in the upper reaches of Cardiff Fork. The snowpack is generally shallow mid-canyon, with depths ranging from 4–6 inches over bare ground, rocks, and vegetation, increasing to 25–35 inches higher in the canyon.
The snowpack contains multiple melt-freeze crusts from sun and warming periods between storms, with some weakening at those interfaces. The main concern lies in shaded terrain, where 10–20 cm of faceted grains are present near the ground. This faceting is more pronounced in rocky areas. While a snowpit revealed dry conditions and no obvious signs of propagation, this weak layer remains a concern as additional snow and wind load the pack in the coming days. Cold, dry temperatures will continue to drive faceting.
At upper elevations, winds appeared to be transporting snow along ridgelines and sub-ridges, creating noticeable mid-slope texture. Shallow wind slabs are likely forming in these areas and may rest atop the weak, faceting snow, potentially creating more cohesive slabs.
By 2 PM, small roller balls were observed on steep, lower-elevation slopes, suggesting that solar aspects may develop a crust by tomorrow morning.
Snowpit from an E-facing aspect near 8700':
Coverage photo:
Today's Observed Danger Rating
None
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
None
Coordinates