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Observation: Reynolds Pk

Observation Date
2/15/2022
Observer Name
Hardesty
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Reynolds Pk
Location Name or Route
Reynolds Peak area
Weather
Sky
Few
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Warm with occasional gusts from the southwest. Free air winds cranking as lenticulars hung over the Cottonwood and AF ridgelines.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Faceted Loose
Wind Crust
Melt-Freeze Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
"Easy travel" avoids the question. More on snow surfaces below.
Comments
High northerly aspects are highly variable with facets, crusts, and windboard and this will make (eventual) avalanches tricky and variable as well.
Mid and low elevation northerlies (NW>NE) are more consistently holding 10-25cm of faceted grains on the surface. Facet sluffs are common and poor traction (sandboxing) is the norm. See video. Just remains to be seen if there is enough snowfall and loading to cause a problem.
Easterly aspects are variable as well but I found a thin skiff of facets and small surface hoar above a 2cm mf crust at 9000'. Poor bonding can be expected unless proven otherwise. Photo of square drawn in above mf crust. A thick layer of facets exist below the crusts.
West through south through southeast are generally rough, warm, and corrugated and prefrontal precipitation should establish a good initial bond on these aspects. Photo. Some (especially steeper) southerly aspects are becoming threadbare if not melted off entirely. Facets exist below many of these surface crusts.
Video
If we see the high end of snow and wind, expect sluffing and areas of wind drifted snow...and the danger will rise accordingly.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Low
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
None
Coordinates