Observations from Andesite Peak

Location Name: 
Andesite Peak
Region: 
Donner Summit Area
Date and time of observation: 
Tue, 04/01/2014 - 16:00
Location Map: 
United States
39° 20' 59.8776" N, 120° 22' 0.858" W
See map: Google Maps
US


Red Flags: 
Whumphing noises, shooting cracks, or collapsing
Recent loading by new snow, wind, or rain
Observation made by: Forecaster
Snowpit Observations
More detailed information about the snowpack: 

Evidence of instability was limited to wind loaded locations in this area today. Snowpit dug near treeline in area of fairly good protection from SW winds revealed little evidence of storm slab or unstable deep persistent slabs in this specific area.

Photo 1: Small natural wind slab avalanche along summit ridge at noted lat/long. Crown height of 6 inches.

Photo 2: Ski triggered shooting crack 12 inches deep and 20 ft long triggered adjacent to small natural avalanche in photo 1. Difficult to see in the photo due to rapid recovering by blowing snow, but directly off of ski tip in photo.

Photo 3: Settlement crack 3 inches wide on E aspect at 7,600'.

Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph: 
Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
Yes
Cloud Cover: 
75% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Moderate
Air temperature trend: 
Static
Wind Direction: 
Southwest
More detailed information about the weather: 

Off and on snow showers had ended by 3:30 pm.