Observation: Reynolds Peak

Observation Date
12/14/2023
Observer Name
Ambler & Bauer
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Mill D North » Butler Fork » Reynolds Peak
Location Name or Route
Reynolds Glade
Weather
Sky
Clear
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Calm
Weather Comments
I went skiing again and dug another pit so here it is. Skies were clear. The sun seemed intent to retort my previous claim of feebleness. We were walking up a southern aspect around noon and it felt like bikini weather. The snow warmed quickly.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Dense Loose
Faceted Loose
Wind Crust
Melt-Freeze Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
There were a myriad of surface conditions to be found in the backcountry today. In shady, sheltered aspects, I believe the top to be starting to facet from what we saw and felt today. There were also surface hoar crystals present in these same shady sheltered zones. The sun has done its work on solar aspects. The wind has also put in work from the east. There are still high quality, cold dry turns to be made, they're just a little harder to come by.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Poor Snowpack Structure
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
See sorry structure still present in pit. Also see new PWL's maybe in the works
Snow Profile
Aspect
North
Elevation
8,700'
Slope Angle
20°
Comments
We dug our pit below where the typical transition spot is after skiing the glades. There's a creek down there and I wouldn't expect to find the buried surface hoar everywhere in this area. However the current surface hoar was pretty widespread. The NSF seemed to be in its early stages of formation. See below a photo of tburied surface hoar and yet to be buried surface hoar on a 2mm grid. NSF photo didn't turn out.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate