January 23
Location:
Started at the Alta guard station ascending to Cardiff pass, continuing along the ridge past the eyebrow and descending into main Cardiff via the keyhole. Ascended to Cardiac ridge for a view into Mineral, descending to the flats. Ascended into Cardiac bowl using the east facing secondary, traversing to Cardiac pass descending into Mill B South. Ascended to the ridge, descending into upper Mineral continuing down to the flats. Ascended the east facing to the ridge overlooking Mill B, descending into Mineral, continuing out to the road.
Weather:
It was overcast for most of the day with a pesky northwest breeze even down in the drainages. Moderate temperatures.
Snow:
The slightly warmer temperatures, cloud cover and breeze eliminated much of the near surface faceting. Skiing was of the creamy powder variety. Sluffing was not a factor because of denser and better-bonded snow. There may have been some drifting from the winds, but it wasn’t encountered. The new snow has settled nicely.
Bottom Line:
The snow is mostly stable. Possible increased shallow wind slab hazard along the ridges from the winds and continued potential of wet activity from warming.
January 25
Location:
Started at Porter ascending the road and continuing, taking the left fork followed by a right fork putting us in the Raymond slabs area. Traversed and ascended into Raymond glade continuing to the ridge. Ascended the ridge to the summit of Raymond, descending the north chute into the slabs drainage. Ascended to the west descending into east Porter. Ascended the ridge, traversing west to the next summit descending the northwest facing chute into main Porter continuing down to the summer trail out Porter.
Weather:
It was partly cloudy for most of the day with mild temperatures. We had very little wind even along the upper ridges. A breeze here and there from the south.
Snow:
The snow is a mixed bag having suffered from winds of several directions. There are scattered stiff slabs, both along the ridges and well down into the drainages in more exposed terrain. There is also some good settled dense and creamy powder.
Little in the way of instability was noted, with the most hazard from skins icing in sunny terrain.
Bottom Line:
Snow is mostly stable. The hazard would be from isolated wind slabs formed today in upper elevations. There appears to be minimal lingering near surface faceting and or surface hoar, so bonding would be dependent on how the new snow falls.
