Observation: Reynolds Pk

Observation Date
12/26/2016
Observer Name
mark white
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Reynolds Pk
Location Name or Route
Reynolds Peak
Weather
Sky
Few
Wind Direction
Northwest
Wind Speed
Calm
Weather Comments
Calm, fairly cold and clear until about 2pm, with increasing high clouds and low level clouds working their way up the canyon, after that.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
14"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments

12 to 14 inches of new light density snow in the terrain covered, SE-S and maybe SW got damp and will be crusted in the AM.

Comments

Todays route started at Mill D North Fork, headed up the east ridge of Reynolds Peak, skied the S-SE face of Reynolds, then did a SW facing run dropping into the same drainage, then back over the ridge with a exit out the way we came. The E-NE face of Reynolds had been skied wall to wall by the time we got there with no activity or wind affect noted. The S facing off Reynolds consisted of 14 inches of light density snow sitting on a breakable zipper crust with soft settled snow under that. Did not note much sluffing even on the steeper section of Reynolds S-SE face. The SE was starting to get damp around 1:30pm or so. At that elevation there was not much wind damage or a slab noted, probably a different story with a 1000 more feet in altitude. Only avalanche activity noted was on the SE facing shot that comes off of Wilson Peak, looked like a wind loaded pocket that pulled out sometime yesterday. No real red flags noted today, no cracking or collapsing or unusual wind slabs noted.

Photo: The pocket that pulled out of of Wilson Peak, lookers left side of photo, sorry bad phone photo

Not sure what the weather is going to do but with more daytime heating wet activity may occur tomorrow, and still a bit suspect of high elevation wind loaded terrain.

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