Observations from Andesite Peak

Location Name: 
Andesite Peak
Region: 
Donner Summit Area
Date and time of observation: 
Fri, 03/28/2014 - 10:45
Location Map: 
United States
39° 21' 1.152" N, 120° 21' 48.24" W
See map: Google Maps
US


Red Flags: 
Recent loading by new snow, wind, or rain
Obvious avalanche path
Observation made by: Forecaster
Snowpit Observations
More detailed information about the snowpack: 

Searching for near crust facets today in areas below 8,000' revealed NFC's limited to N-NE aspects above 7,900'. Initial test pit on a NE aspect at 7,540' (39.343641, -120.353542) revealed no near crust facets and no signs of instability with ECTN and PST >95% results. The second test pit (graphed below) revealed problematic NCF's on a N aspect at 7,920' (noted lat/long). At this time the overlying snow load remains insufficient to collapse the weak layer. Isolated vertical ice columns (perc tubes) within the weak layer at the 7,920' location made PSTs difficult to perform. Only one of 5 attempted PSTs at the pit location was performed cleanly without interruption to the saw while performing the test. If the interrupting perc tube(s) in the down slope end of the column were sawed through, PST end results of <50% were obtained.

Other observations from around the forecast area have shown that the NCF layer becomes better developed and perc tubes within the weak layer are much more infrequent at higher elevations.

Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Cloud Cover: 
100% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Light
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
Southwest