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Observation: Mill D North

Observation Date
1/13/2023
Observer Name
JD
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Mill D North
Location Name or Route
Mill D North
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Rapid Warming
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wet Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
The snow was heating up fast by around 11am. South aspects especially were actively shedding their skin. Glopping started around 12:30 on the solar aspects I was traveling on.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Cornice
Trend
Same
Problem #2 Comments
HUGE cornices on the east ridge of Reynolds. A gentle reminder to give these monsters extra space. I skinned up further left than the skinner that was already in and was shocked to see that someone had put 4 turns in on the very edge of the cornice. Reminds me of the old saying "play stupid games, win stupid prizes"
Comments
Spotted the momma Moose and her two babes at the base of Tom's. They had absolutely demolished the skinner from the creek crossing in Mill D North all the way to Tom's. Beautiful animals. She didn't seem too stressed about me but I was a good 100 feet away from them.
Great skiing on shaded north aspects. Travel/skiing was generally between 8200 and 9300 feet. Solar aspects were indeed crusty. West, in particular, was pretty nasty. North aspect where I skied was outrageously filled in (skinning amongst the treetops) and was surfy and fun. Setting the skinner was hard work with a slightly inverted top 12 inches. No instabilities observed but I was on slopes less than 30 the whole day. Good to get some Vitamin D before the next storm!
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
Coordinates