Faceting over basal ice on Red Lake Pk.

Location Name: 
Red Lake Peak
Region: 
Carson Pass Area
Date and time of observation: 
Thu, 11/03/2016 - 12:05
Location Map: 
United States
38° 43' 4.0188" N, 119° 58' 41.6064" W
US


Red Flags: 
Obvious avalanche path

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

Significantly less snow exists in the Carson Pass area at 8,500' than exists on Donner summit at 7,800'-8,000'. Little to no snow exists below 8,000'-8,500' in the Carson Pass area. Faceting is occurring on NW-N-NE aspects and melt is occurring on all other aspects. Air temperature inversion conditions have air temperatures at 9,200' well above freezing. Above 9,000' on Red Lake Peak, snowpack layering is similar to what was observed on Oct 31 on Tamarack Peak in the Mount Rose area. Snow deposited above 8,500'-9,000' on Oct 16 was significantly rain wetted in the second half of the month and has become a basal ice mass on NW-N-NE aspects. This basal ice is covered by the snow deposited on Oct 30. Snowpit data collected today on Red Lake Peak on a N aspect at 9,240' in the mid path avalanche start zone revealed that snow on top of the basal ice is beginning to facet. At this time the overlying slab in the immediate area is generally thin at 5 cm or less. Up near the top of the peak, the overlying slab may be significantly thicker from more efficient wind loading.

Photo 1 - Overall thin snow cover on the N side of Red Lake Peak above Crater Lake.

Photo 2 - Mid path avalanche start zone. Pit was dug is this area.

Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph: 
Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Cloud Cover: 
Clear
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Calm
Air temperature trend: 
Warming