November 14
Cardiff
Elevations, slope angles and aspects:
7000'-10'400', angles to 40°, north and east aspects.
Slopes skied:
Two laps on east facing Cardiac ridge.
Snow conditions:
Snow line is about 9000' on north facing. Northeast facing has a snow line five hundred feet higher.
The skiff of snow from Sunday evening was blown around the following day forming a crust of variable thickness.
Pole probing revealed some areas with good support on east facing.
Weather:
Bluebird, with cool temperatures. It never warmed enough to melt the ice over puddles, even at lower elevations.
Snow pit:
Evaluation:
Cooler temperatures are promoting temperature gradients, weakening the snow pack.
Present snow is mostly stable, with some shallow wind drifts scattered around.
Future instabilities will likely be within near surface faceting on shady slopes and bonding of new snow to old crusts on off aspects, with pre-existing cover.
© wowasatch.com