Observation: Reynolds Pk

Observation Date
1/11/2020
Observer Name
Champion
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Reynolds Pk
Location Name or Route
East Reynolds
Weather
Sky
Broken
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
When we headed up it was actually broken, with patches of blue sky coming through. Winds increased on the ridgeline, and snowfall began on the ski-out. Light snowfall by the time we were back at the car.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments
Great surface conditions.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Heavy Snowfall
Wind Loading
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
A lot of new snow available for transport and obvious signs of wind loading at the upper ridgelines, such as growing cornices and pillow-shaped loaded snow.
Snow Profile
Aspect
Northeast
Elevation
9,100'
Slope Angle
30°
Comments
Hoped to head out and continue investigating the persistent weak layer of new surface facets that has begun giving us results in our tests on aspects other than Southwest through Southeast. This interface is about 2 feet down, dependent on elevation and likely formed between Christmas and New Years when we had really cold temperatures. This is an interesting layer because it does not revolve around a crust, as the south aspects do, but is showing propagation in our pits.
Today I was able to find that layer, and produce consistent propagation in the 20s.
This layer is now consistently showing results in our snowpits, we still have not seen and human or natural triggered avalanches on this layer. While it baffles me a bit, as we continue to add more snow and wind to this layer I am interested to see if we begin producing human trigger and natural avalanches - or if we no longer see results on this interface. All we can keep doing is digging down to that layer, and seeing what type of results we get on it throughout the next few storm systems.
Photo of snowpit with full propagation on NE aspect - Reynolds
Photo of incoming dark clouds
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable