Travel today was up Mill D and out Butler Fork, skied SW which was wind scoured in the top and on the verge of being damp in the bottom. Then a run on wind protected N facing which still had creamy settled powder with the new light density on top. And finally a run on W facing wind protected into Butler Fork. The wind was cranking on the ridge line moving snow, forming dense and sensitive cornices and cross loading slopes that are E and W facing, and loading the N facing down lower on the slope than usual. The wind was the main concern today seeing that it only snowed 4 inches of light density snow that did not add much weight to the snow pack. Saw a fairly large cornice drop on the NE facing part of Reynolds Peak not sure if it was natural or human triggered but in any case it did not produce any avalanche activity. I’m thinking the avalanche hazard will remain considerable with the wind loading and more snow in the forecast for tonight

Photos: Reynolds face with a cornice drop on the NE facing, sensitive cornices on the ridge line, and the incoming storm