December 4
Reynolds flat to upper Cardiff
Elevations, slope angles and aspects
7500-10400', angles approaching 40°, north and east facing aspects.
Snow conditions
2-4" storm total with an inch or so falling at upper elevations during the day. The old surface is a rain-rime crust of variable thickness and support.The underlying crust is most supportable at lower elevations and on off aspects. Sheltered, shady upper elevations have a fragile crust, support lacking.
Weather
Partly cloudy in the morning. Instability showers moved in and visibility decreased dramatically. Afternoon snow showers. Moderate temperatures with little wind.off the ridges.
Avalanche activity
Cracking and collapsing of the rain-rime crust was widespread, most pronounced in shallow rocky areas.
Shady slopes with angles over 35° were producing surface sluffing. Some of those initiated crust fractures as did hard ski cuts.The resulting avalanches were small, less than 20' wide, with snow building to mid calf or so. Not enough to knock a person down or produce much of a debris pile. The crust chunks were annoying to ski through and the noise of shattering, quite loud.
Evaluation
Snow could be classified as stable, although activity was widespread. The shallow new snow amounts don't provide enough load to produce an avalanche cycle.
© wowasatch.com