January 17
Alta guard station, Cardiff pass, Reynolds flat.
Elevations, slope angles and aspects
7400-10k, angles over 35°, north and south facing aspects.
Snow conditions
Rain crust capping old snow.
There was a graupel snow event with pooling on lower angles and windblown drifting.
The crust is barely edgeable at upper elevations with sliders likely. Self arrest devices required on steep slopes.
Below 8k, crust was still a little soggy. Ski penetration about an inch. Boot penetration about a foot.
Rain eliminated much of the lower elevation base.
Weather
Overcast to foggy skies. Winds from the west, gusty and swirling, gusts over 30 mph. Mild temperatures.
Avalanche activity
UDOT control work on Superior
(Photo from the bus) Wet slab gouging out the gully and fanning in the lower apron.
Powerline ridge
Another (natural)wet slab off northeast facing powerline ridge leaving a pile of debris in the runnout gully below Cardiff bowl.
Crown of a coupla inches, ran several hundred feet, triggered a mini, lookers lower left in the gully.
Numerous rollers, wet slabs on mid elevation north facing(y chute etc, seen from the bus)and point releases at lower elevations.
Evaluation
Slides for life likely at upper elevations if you can get there with crampons and an ice axe.
Potential for wet activity at lower elevations until cooling seizes up the soggy snow.
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