Photographed December 17, 2021 at Powder Mountain in Utah\u2019s Wasatch Mountains.<\/p>\n
Look closely. There\u2019s a tiny plate at the heart of this snowflake. The four arms on the left are distinctly different from the two arms on the right pointing to 2 and 4 o\u2019clock. The plate appears to have interrupted the normal growth of the right arms, which should have resulted in a deformity. The real story is hidden in the ice, but it appears the two right arms grew from a tiny speck on top of the plate, slightly elevated above the other arms. Despite this setback, the snowflake recovered and healed as it grew into a beautiful, symmetrical masterpiece.<\/em><\/p>\n This snowflake was captured on Opening Day of Powder Mountain\u2019s 50th Anniversary Season. Guests were treated to fresh tracks and a little sunshine. After a beautiful sunset, my daughter said, \u201cLook at these snowflakes!\u201d We stopped skiing and photographed a collection of snowflakes near the bottom of the Sundown lift. The nearly full moon poked through the clouds every now and then to join the night skiing lights in illuminating the fresh snow.<\/em><\/p>\n Temperature: 15\u00b0F
\nElevation: 8100 feet<\/p>\n