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Observation: Reynolds Peak

Observation Date
1/20/2016
Observer Name
Fred
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Mill D North » Butler Fork » Reynolds Peak
Location Name or Route
Mill D north fork to reynolds pk to bw gulch
Weather
Sky
Obscured
Precipitation
Heavy Snowfall
Wind Direction
Northwest
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Heavy snow at times. Winds active and brisk at elevation. Evidence of strong winds well off ridge but now while in the field.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
11"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments

Snow has gone upside down from yesterday. Todays snow is denser and wind effected and poorly bonded to the snow from the weekend.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Heavy Snowfall
Wind Loading
Cracking
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Checked 5 of seven boxes for today. Just on the drive up the canyon there were long roadside avalanches that had propogated for some distance. Always a bad sign. The heavy snowfall with the more dense snow from this morning sitting on the very light snow from Tuesday morning and bonding poorly leads to poor snowpack structure. Then toss in some wind. There you have it. All but the rapid warming which is in the forecast for Thursday.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Problem #1 Comments

Full depth snow pack pit dug at 9000' in sheltered 28 degree slope yielded high quality shear 8" down with 3 taps from the wrist.

Basal facets seemed solid but present.

Second shear albeit more stubborn about 20" down which I believe is the weekend storm snow sitting on the frost hoar which formed during the short cold dry spell.

See Pic

Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #2 Comments

As above the second most reactive pit layer is about 20" down. Buried frost hoar.

Snow Profile
Aspect
North
Elevation
9,000'
Slope Angle
28°

Also as reported triggered an avalanche on the east facing ridge leading up to Reynolds peak. See report.

Had we continued up the ridge to Reynolds summit I feel confident that the east bowl would have released. It was wind loading quite well today.

With predicted rapid warming for tomorrow this can not bode well for avalanche conditions.

Today's Observed Danger Rating
High
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
High