Snowpack observations from Silver Peak

Location Name: 
Silver Peak
Region: 
Cabin Creek, Deep Creek, or Pole Creek Area
Date and time of observation: 
Sat, 02/13/2010 - 12:00
Location Map: 
United States
39° 13' 18.6528" N, 120° 14' 45.4632" W
US


Red Flags: 
Rapid warming
Obvious avalanche path

Observation made by: Forecaster
Snowpit Observations
More detailed information about the snowpack: 

Mostly stable snow observed in the Silver Peak area today. Ski-cut several 37-40 degree, N-NE facing, wind-loaded test slopes both above and below treeline with no results. A variable crust does exist on all aspects up to 8000' in this area. On most N-NE aspects above 7000' this crust was breakable. On these northerly aspects a thin layer of weak sugary snow existed just below this thin (.5 in. at the thickest) breakable crust. Above 7700' this crust was very thin and hardly noticable under one's skis. On the sheltered N-NE aspects several inches of soft unconsolidated snow still remains just below the crust in areas below 8000' and on the surface in areas above 8000'. On the exposed non-treed slopes above 8000' a mix of wind-crusts, hard wind-slabs, and soft unconsolidated snow existed on the snow surface. On the more sun-exposed southerly aspects the melt-freeze crust softened and left 1-3 inches of slushy, wet , heavy snow on the surface by mid-day. Expect this wet snow to refreeze tonight. Below this top 1-3 inches of wet snow the snow was still cold, dry and soft.

Photo 1: Variable crust on the snow surface at 7200' on a NNE aspect.

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

 

Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Cloud Cover: 
Clear
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Light
Precipitation: 
None
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
Southwest
Accumulation rate: 
None
More detailed information about the weather: 

Sunny and warm. Snow surface softened quickly by mid-day on all sun-exposed areas.