November 23
Upper Cardiff from Reynolds flat
Elevations, slope angles and aspects
7200-10'500', angles over 35°, north and east facing aspects.
Snow conditions
Snow level on the shady side is about 8k. On the sun exposed it's 9500'+. At 8000', there's less than a foot of snow, with amounts increasing to over 2' at upper elevations.The surface at lower elevations is a stout rain crust, gradually changing, with elevation gain, to a dissolving rime crust. Off aspects have experienced several melt-freeze cycles. A skiff of small grained faceted covers most crusts. Ski conditions are variable.
Weather
Skies were clear to partly cloudy, with light wind off the ridges. Moderate temperatures
Snow pit
Evaluation
Snow is old and mostly stable. There are a few scattered wind drifts at upper elevations which, will crack with weight. Small grained facets are widespread under variable crusts, especially, in the shade. Future avalanche activity would be dependent on old-new bonding and the new snow amounts, currently guessed at less than a foot for Thanksgiving.
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