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Observation: Mill D North

Observation Date
1/10/2017
Observer Name
Fred
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Mill D North
Location Name or Route
Mill D circut. Little water peak to Reynolds
Weather
Sky
Obscured
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
South
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Very poor light today. Hard to get any photos. Brisk wind on ridges but not bad off of them.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
3"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Dense Loose
Wind Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments

Dense new snow from the last few days. Adding up to about 7-8" in wind protected areas. South facing ridges blown to the rocks. Cornices are getting healthy again and are sensitive. Breaking well (7-8') back from the edge.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Wind Loading
Cracking
Red Flags Comments
Natural avalanches on the north facing Littlewater Peak and north aspect of the main Reynolds bowl. Could not really get a view of the LW slide due to the cornices and wind. Attempted to photo one crown on LW. Reynolds slid on the north facing aspect only. Looked like the cornice zippered for a long streach of the ridge. Running from about the ever present windpillow on the north ridge over to the pine trees towards the east. Ran into the flats. Could see some brush showing but no real crown due to the wind activity.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments

Skied the east facing sub ridge off of reynolds to come home. Pit revealed 3 active layers. First about 3-4" down of new snow from last 24 hrs. Second about 8-9" down snow from last 48 hours. Then about 24" down a fairly clean shear on perhaps preserved hoar frost.

While walking up to Reynolds summit a few pieces of cornice inadvertently broke off. Producing nothing of consequence.

With more snow in the forecast would expect more complexity.

Poor photo of LW peak and Reynolds peak.

Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments

It would seem that at some point there will be enough weight to break this loose.

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