Light Snow on Rubicon Peak

Headed to Rubicon Peak today for snowpack mapping and data collection from the West Shore Tahoe zone. We encountered light rain/snow mix at the trailhead (6,940') this morning and afternoon. Trees were actively dripping along with tree bombs up to about 7,500'. Above 8,000', the surface snow became softer and drier. A ski supportable snowpack with sufficient coverage was noted at all elevations traveled. Light snow accumulations and calm to light winds were noted throughout the tour.

A snowpit dug at the noted lat/long (NNW aspect, 9,040', at treeline) showed a right side up snowpack with no problematic results from snowpack tests. This data matched well with other snowpack data from around the forecast area from similar elevation and aspect locations in terms of overall depth, general layering structure, and the presence of a thin layer of non-problematic rounding facets at the base of the snowpack.

No signs of snowpack instability were observed in this area today.