Tamarack Peak Observations

Location Name: 
East Ridge Tamarack Peak
Region: 
Mount Rose Area
Date and time of observation: 
Sat, 02/06/2010 - 12:00
Location Map: 
United States
39° 18' 45.4284" N, 119° 54' 37.4652" W
See map: Google Maps
US


Red Flags: 
Recent loading by new snow, wind, or rain
Observation made by: Professional Observer
Snowpit Observations
More detailed information about the snowpack: 

Observations from Tamarack Peak/Mt. Rose area.  Couldn't get any slab activity today with many cornice drops, ski kicks, and ski cuts on small test slopes.  I dug a test pit just below ridgeline, 9200' NE aspect, on a heavily wind loaded slope.  I had consistent ECT results in the moderate range with propagation across the column, although they were resistant planar and the column did not slide easily.  2 propagation saw tests showed that propagation was not likely if this weak layer was initiated.  In all of these tests the weak layer was a density change: a softer/lighter layer of snow with a firmer/denser layer over the top-probably a wind crust/small wind slab that formed during our last storm.  Visibility was limited today, did not see any recent avalanche activity.    

Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph: 
Snowpit videos (tests, etc): 

ECTP-12

PST 65/100 END

Any other comments about the observation or links to outside pages that have more info on the observation: 

 

Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
Yes
Cloud Cover: 
100% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Moderate
Precipitation: 
Snow
Air temperature trend: 
Static
Wind Direction: 
Southwest
Accumulation rate: 
Less than 1 in. per hour
More detailed information about the weather: