Incline Lake Peak Observations

Cold and windy day in the Incline Lake Peak area with light snow flurries.  Blowing snow was observed along the ridges and in some lower terrain with moderate to strong NE winds.  In above treeline terrain, snow surfaces were scoured down to old snow or rock/ice in very wind exposed areas.  In near treeline and below treeline terrain, wind crusts and effects existed on multiple aspects with soft unconsolidated snow in the most protected below treeline areas.  A snowpit was dug at noted lat/long at 9600' on a NW aspect.  A shallow snowpack existed with HS=58cm.  The recent storm snow accounted for about 30cm with the remaining 28cm old snow.  All of the snow was low density fist hard snow with the lower old snow faceting and becoming weaker.  Snowpack tests along with informal observations did not show any signs of instabilities.