April 17
Alta guard station to Cardiff and back
Elevations, slope angles and aspects:
8000-11000', angles approaching 40°, all aspects.
Avalanche activity:
Skier triggered slide was observed on the se face of Flagstaff
at around 8:30 am. Other activity was limited to a few point release sluffs and rollers from heating.
Slopes skied:
Little Superior ne facing, Cardiac bowl to the flats below the low angled slabs and Cardiff bowl back to Alta.
Snow conditions:
4-8" aspect and elevation dependent, with the most snow on upper elevation north facing. There were some localized drifts that had deeper snow. Overnight clear skies and cool temperatures dried the storm snow[providing good winter like conditions. Spring sun dampened all but the highest north facing by around noon. Winds from the northwest (what else is new) scoured and loaded, aspect dependent. Ski cutting produced little action on the shady side, limited sluffs on slopes under 35° on the sunny side.
Weather:
Bluebird, with light northwest wind and moderate temperatures.
Evaluation:
Mostly stable snow. Temperatures stayed cool enough that wet activity was also limited. Current forecast indicates slightly warmer temperatures, so upper elevation shady should, once again, have some good skiing. Off aspects and south facing are likely crusted. Timing the melt will allow good safe snocone conditions with shallow sluffs the main instability from heating.
Heating up on Saturday.
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