Observation: Reynolds Pk

Headed up to Reynolds Peak to see what was happening in the mid elevation terrain today after a day of full on weather abuse on the PC Ridgeline yesterday. Trail breaking is still some work but not like yesterday’s upside down cake. Broke trail up to the peak with no intentions of skiing it and after discussing it with my partner we decided it was more than likely cross loaded with a big wind pillow about 30ft down the slope. Someone had snuck in on the side in the N facing trees but in my opinion the reward was minimal and the risk wasn’t worth it, patience is key after a large storm, best to give it a few days to settle out and the skiing is also far better after settlement. It’s also important to remember that I triggered two large repeater slides on the PC Ridgeline yesterday and Reynolds Peak has already slid a couple times this year and thus makes it suspect in my mind. We ended up skiing down the shoulder of Reynolds and after two large collapses on the steeper portions we felt good about our call not to ski Reynolds face.

photos: small cornice drops on the face of Reynolds, and lower on the shoulder, and some medium strenuous trail breaking

There seemed to be a storm total of around 2 feet above 9000ft, it’s a layered snow pack with light density snow at the bottom, then yesterday’s denser snow and back to light density on the surface. It’s still a bit inverted but nothing like Thursday, you would break through the dense layer hiking but stay on top while skiing. It seems to be settling out rapidly, not much wind affect on the surface snow in the terrain covered.