December 9
Cardiff Fork
Elevations, slope angles and aspects
7500-10500', angles over 35°, north and east facing aspects.
Snow conditions
The road in had just enough new snow for skinning from the trail head. Effects of the wind were noticeable from the start.
Up higher, wind damage was more apparent as was the amount of snow.
Storm totals were 4" to about 10". Wind drifts found up to about 20". The most sensitive were only about 6" deep from the most recent winds.
Weather
Clearing skies and cool temperatures.
Winds were gusty and swirling off the ridges, from a north-northwest direction near ridges, gusts to around 20 mph. Winds were moving snow.
Avalanche activity
Five new snow sluffs were observed in upper Cardiff.
Three in Cardiac ridge area, one east facing from the rock bands near Cardiac pass and one coming out of the chutes in Cardiac bowl.
All sluffs ran several hundred vertical.
Snow pit
Pole probing indicated variability ranging the gamut. Several crust layers, facet sandwiches, etc.
The common theme was: mid October, stout melt freeze crust, continues to hold things together.
Evaluation
Mostly stable snow on ene facing in upper Cardiff. Storm total water weight of about 1/3 of an inch was not enough to produce widespread avalanching. Another round of wind from several directions, once again, adds complexity. The weakest faceted layering, down off the ridges, in more sheltered terrain, may have enough load to initiate patchy slides in older snow. Wind drifts in the upper elevations could also activate in localized areas.
Otherwise, we're still waiting for the "big one".
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