Observations from Carson Pass

Location Name: 
Frog Lake Ridge
Region: 
Carson Pass Area
Date and time of observation: 
Wed, 03/26/2014 - 14:00
Location Map: 
United States
38° 41' 19.2336" N, 119° 59' 3.3252" W
See map: Google Maps
US


Red Flags: 
Recent avalanche activity
Whumphing noises, shooting cracks, or collapsing
Recent loading by new snow, wind, or rain
Obvious avalanche path
Terrain Trap
Observation made by: Professional Observer
Snowpit Observations
More detailed information about the snowpack: 

Pic 1: Shooting cracks limted to steep, convex or undercut wind loaded slopes. Just meters away from these areas, new snow height was minimal and did not promote further propagation.

Pic 2: Loose failures observed both at a density change within the new storm snow and at the new/old interface.

Video: On a steep, windloaded NE aspect, someone had triggered an R1 D1 just minutes prior that showed characteristics of loose wet, loose dry, and slab. Crown propagation was minimal but observable, and debris was just moist and dense enough that farther downslope flow pattern appeared wet. When I ski cut hang fire, purposeful down-weighting triggered a slightly deeper instability just under the nearest surface crust. These crust/facet combos as described in video were observable on N/NE aspects throughout the area, but did not appear to have enough new slab development to be a concern yet.

Snowpack photos: 
Snowpit videos (tests, etc): 

20140326 Frog Lake Ridge

Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
Yes
Cloud Cover: 
100% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Moderate
Precipitation: 
Snow
Air temperature trend: 
Static
Wind Direction: 
Southwest
Accumulation rate: 
Less than 1 in. per hour
More detailed information about the weather: 

S1- snowfall throughout afternoon with occasional bursts of S2