Sun Crusts, Transitional Snow, and Soft Snow on Chickadee Ridge

Location Name: 
Chickadee Ridge
Region: 
Mount Rose Area
Date and time of observation: 
Mon, 03/09/2015 - 13:00
Location Map: 
United States
39° 17' 41.9712" N, 119° 53' 44.2428" W
See map: Google Maps
US



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

A few inches of melt-freeze snow existed above wet sticky snow that has not fully transitioned to corn on the sun exposed E-SE-S-SW aspects on Chickadee Ridge. The snow is melting away from the southerly slopes very quickly in this area. Other SE-S-SW aspects across Mt. Rose Hwy. including Rose Knob Peak and the main snowmobile access area also have melted back to bare ground in many areas. This exposed ground has impacted snowmobile access. On the E-ENE aspects a breakable sun-crust exists on the surface in the Chickadee Ridge area. The north aspects still hold several inches of soft unconsolidated surface snow resting on top of old snow layers and crusts that continue to gain strength. Snowpit tests, ski cuts, and general observations did not reveal any signs of instabilities.

Photo 1: Breakable crust on top of softer snow on an ENE aspect at 9000 ft.

Photo 2: Soft unconsolidated snow on a N aspect at 8500 ft at the location noted in this observation.

Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Cloud Cover: 
Clear
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Light
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
East