Near surface facets on Red Vista/Elephant's Hump.

Location Name: 
Red Vista/Elephant's Hump
Region: 
Carson Pass Area
Date and time of observation: 
Tue, 02/24/2015 - 11:30
Location Map: 
United States
38° 41' 20.94" N, 119° 58' 35.472" W
See map: Google Maps
US



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

Widespread melt-freeze snow surface conditions on E-SE-S-SW-W aspects at all elevations traveled from ~7,900' to ~9,000'. These aspects were very slow to enter melt phase today. NW-N-NE aspects above treeline are wind scoured down to rain crust. Near treeline and below treeline, a well developed layer of near surface facets up to 15 cm thick sits on top of the rain crust on most NW-N-NE aspects traveled between ~8,100' and the highpoint of travel at ~9,000'. Large areas of near surface facets exist in both areas of full shade and low angle sun exposure. These areas are interspersed with sections of supportable melt-freeze surface crust. If these near surface facets are buried under a significant slab during the upcoming storm cycle, the areas of coverage are large enough that they could potentially act as a problematic weak layer with very efficient rain crust bed surface below. This will largely depend on the thickness and stiffness of an overlying slab that has yet to be deposited and remains purely theoretical at this time.

Photo 1: 15 cm layer of near crust facets at snowpit location (NE aspect, near treeline, 8,760' 28 degree slope angle). Gloved hand is on top of rain crust.

Photo 2: Breaking trail away from snowpit location in near crust facets. Ski pen of 10 cm.

Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph: 
Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Cloud Cover: 
Clear
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Light
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
East
More detailed information about the weather: 

East wind speeds were much below forecast along slopes and ridgetops between 8,000' and 9,000'.