October 21
Area:
Cardiff
Location:
Ascended Cardiff from Reynolds flat to the base of the Cardiac ridge chute and the top of Superior exiting in a similar manner.
Elevations, slope angles and aspects:
7200'-11'000'+, angles to 40°, north and east aspects.
Avalanche activity observed:
One sluff coming off the southeast facing portion of Cardiac ridge.
Another very small sluff was triggered with a ski cut on the northeast facing. No other activity.
Slopes skied:
Cardiac ridge and Cardiac bowl from the summit of Superior.
Snow conditions:
There was 4-6" of new snow at Reynolds flat over a mostly non existent base. The new snow amount increased to 10-12" above 9500', with a firm melt freeze crusted base from warm temperatures on the 19th followed by yesterday's cooling.
Some warming and melting was noted at lower elevations on the afternoon exit.
Weather:
Clear skies and cool temperatures in the morning. Clouds lowered and increased during the day producing a flake or two of snow. Winds were light from the north-northwest.
Evaluation:
Snow is mostly stable Spotty shallow wind drifts were found in some isolated locations. Future instabilities would be from an increase in winds and from the forecast warming early in the week and beyond, creating wet activity possibly running on the mf crust.