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Observation Date
1/11/2015
Observer Name
Toddeo
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Mill D North » Butler Fork » Reynolds Peak
Location Name or Route
Mill D Reynolds/Nipple/Millcreek
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Speed
Calm
Weather Comments
A damp, warm day. Atmosphere seemed to dry out a bit in the late afternoon. Some greenhousing, minor.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
2"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Dense Loose
Wind Crust
Melt-Freeze Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments

Mixed bag. Skied N, S, and E aspects.

1--2" new 2" may be a bit generous.

South aspects were supportable all day, Dust on crust. North and north east aspects were softer than expected.

East aspects were a bit variable supportable and soft in places (old tracks notwithstanding).

North facing aspects in millcreek, off of wind exposed ridge locations are weak, easy to push a ski pole basket to the ground. HS generally in the 3' range. Damp underlying surface below 8500'.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Cracking
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Some cracking in recent wind drifts along the south side of the Reynolds NE Bowl. I was able to ski cut and get small slabs up to 4" thick to run, although <20 vertical feet. A very minor concern, Could not call these avalanches with a straight face. Poor structure is still a concern. I was not able to isolate columns in shallow faceted areas near the top of the nipple. Facets below crust. Coverage is very poor for mid-January. The Coneflowers should have been buried a long time ago!
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments

Low danger.

Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #2 Comments

Low danger. Of note is an ECTP 17, Q3 in facets (not basal), the propagation was very subtle.

Snow Profile
Aspect
Northwest
Elevation
9,000'
Slope Angle
20°
Comments

Snow profile in NW facing Reynolds glade.

Seems like the snow pack has undergone a lot of settlement in the last week. Snow profile in sheltered area that is unlikely affected by ski traffic.

Today's Observed Danger Rating
Low
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Low
Coordinates