Observation Date
12/3/2019
Observer Name
Bombard, Hardesty
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Reynolds Pk
Location Name or Route
Reynolds to Shangri-La
Weather
Sky
Few
Wind Speed
Calm
Weather Comments
Beautiful.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Faceted Loose
Melt-Freeze Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
Snow surface slowly weakening plus some small grained SH
Red Flags
Red Flags
Collapsing
Rapid Warming
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Very minor, very isolated collapsing. Rollerballs noted on steep cutbanks and steep southerly terrain. Snowpack taking on a bit of solar and heating.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
Last week's storm snow has settled into a 50cm-thick slab that rests on a 1cm layer of facets above a crust. In the spot we dug, that layer PWL rests on a 25cm layer of four-finger-plus damp/strengthening facets. NNE pit we dug at 9200' on the looker's-left Reynolds ridge. ECTP23 on that facet/crust layer.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wet Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #2 Comments
Warming temps today generated roller ball activity, especially on roadside slopes. Expect melt-freeze activity to negatively affect sun-baked slopes, especially S and W.
Snow Profile
Aspect
Northeast
Elevation
9,300'
Comments
Reynolds main face remotely triggered during the recent natural avalanche cycle. Lingering thinly buried facets on old bed surface did not seem that weak (9400' and below).
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable
Coordinates
