Observation: Reids Peak

Observation Date
12/3/2021
Observer Name
Derek DeBruin
Region
Uintas » Reids Peak
Location Name or Route
Reids Peak
Weather
Weather Comments
Very mild conditions. 28F at the Mirror Lake Campground pullout around 0745 this morning, upper 30s F in the same place shortly before noon. A cloud or two in the sky, but pretty bluebird with little/no wind.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Faceted Loose
Wind Crust
Melt-Freeze Crust
Comments
I dug approx. 1m down on a N facing slope around 10,600ft below Bald Mountain. There is a fairly stout 1F or so wind slab on most of the snow surface on the N aspect of Bald Mountain, about 5cm+/- thick, but not supportable underfoot. Boot pen is as much as 40-50cm onto a P hard layer that is quite supportive. Below this is 4F to 1F snow that is loose, sugary, and faceting.
On the east face of Reids peak, E facing snow above 10,600ft on Reids Peak featured 5-8cm thick thermal crust (sometimes as much as 10-15cm thick) and supportive beneath my crampons. NE to N facing snow in the same zone was 60-100cm deep and completely unsupportive, at times facets from top to bottom.
Surface hoar up to about 1cm in size (glove for scale) in protected flats (meadows, frozen ponds). This photo is from about 1145; I wouldn't be surprised if much of this surface hoar doesn't stand up to the sun and heat during the rest of the day.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Low
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Low
Coordinates