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Observation Date
12/12/2016
Observer Name
Brackelsberg
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Reynolds Pk
Location Name or Route
Reynolds Peak
Weather
Sky
Clear
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Cold air was sitting in the drainages with comfortable temperatures elsewhere. I would not be surprised to find surface hoar in some of the low moist areas on Tuesday.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Wind Crust
Melt-Freeze Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
  • The south and southwest aspect had surprisingly stout sun crusts from Sunday.
  • The northeast through southeast aspects had preserved powder.
  • High, exposed areas had a strong wind crust

The snowpack on the southwest aspect was still very shallow.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments

There were some strong wind slabs in the open areas. We did not venture into steeper terrain, but on lower angle terrain these slabs felt like they had lots of energy when ski cut. My feeling is that on a steeper slope, these could easily slide.

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

In areas we put in hand pits, we did not observer significant facets. The snowpack on on the northeast aspect was damp along the ground and no slab layers were observed.

There was a faire amount of buried graupel on the northeast aspects. With another storm, this could be a cause for concern.

Comments

The southerly aspects were still a little bushy for easy travel for all but the biggest animals.

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