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Observation: Reynolds Pk

Observation Date
1/3/2017
Observer Name
Fred
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Reynolds Pk
Location Name or Route
Mill D Reynold Peak to BWG
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Windy on the ridges and moderatly windy on the lower down passes. Wind slab or wind compacted snow forming at all elevations
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
15"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments

New snow depth of 12" - 18" in areas traveled today. I observed many sloughs but no real avalanches.

Riding on east facing the sun crust from last week was very prevalent. On north aspects soft. Felt like the snow was compacting with the wind and rising temperatures today.

By far the best snow of 2017. However nothing like christmas day.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Heavy Snowfall
Wind Loading
Red Flags Comments
Lots of wind transported snow about. But I did not find any cracking or collapsing. Pit on east aspect showed two ice layers under new snow. Both were fairly stout. North aspect pit in a very shelterd spot did not produce any clean shear or any real clear weak layers. There was a fiar bit of sloughing where I dug this north asptect pit but no stepping down as the slough ran.
Comments

If a new round of heavy snow falls things will be interesting.

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