Observation: Reynolds Pk

Observation Date

3/11/2026

Observer Name

Hardesty and Talty

Region

Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Reynolds Pk

Location Name or Route

Reynolds Peak

Weather

Sky

Few

Wind Direction

West

Wind Speed

Moderate

Weather Comments

Mostly clear and cold in the wake of last night's cold front. Moderate westerly winds, but did not note any snow transport or plumes off the high peaks.

Snow Characteristics

Snow Surface Conditions

Wind Crust

Melt-Freeze Crust

Snow Characteristics Comments

Crusts abound from the very warm temps and the relentless winds. Temp crusts exist into the polar mid-elevation bands but where they diminish, the wind crusts take over.

Red Flags

Red Flags Comments

None

Comments

Travel was up Lees Fork - adjacent to Mill D North - and were *just* able to mostly link patches of snow to get to Reynolds Peak. Descended the west ridge and into Butler East...back to BCC.

Previous wind slabs were faceting out and cold temps kept the lid on most of any wet activity.

Noted the large north facing avalanches off the west ridge of Reynolds Peak...that failed on the DJL PWL and included a near miss on Feb 19th. These many glades are often viewed as benign terrain, but occasionally avalanche.

Traveling on lower and mid-elevation slopes is becoming increasingly difficult.

Raptor out shopping for lunch

Conditions...