Observations from Powderhouse Peak

Location Name: 
Powderhouse Peak
Region: 
Luther Pass Area (including Job and Freel)
Observation Date & Time: 
Wednesday, April 8, 2020 - 09:30
Location: 
38.782663, -119.981989
See map: CalTopo
Is this an Avalanche Observation?: 
No


Conditions Alerts:

  • Rapid or Prolonged Warming
  • Rapid or Prolonged Warming›Warm Temperatures

Terrain Alerts: 
Terrain Traps
Observation made by: Professional Observer

Tabs

Observation
Description of Snow, Weather, and Avalanche Conditions: 

Toured above Luther Pass today. We found very heavy snow below tree line with some breakable crust thrown in too. Just skiing in the challenging snow below about 7800 feet felt like the biggest harzard today. Above tree line on any aspect that received direct sun there was either a strong breakable crust or firm refrozen snow. While winds were light on at this location, we could observe blowing snow from higher elevations on the Little Round Top ridgeline. The surface snow on the shady side of the Powderhouse ridgeline was heavy and would resist wind transport. 

I dug a pit on a shady above treeline aspect at 8800 feet to look at the crust interface between the new snow and the older snow. One could feel the crust with a probe but it was difficult to determine if there was a present weak layer with the probe. I had an ECTP 30 down 54 cms within the crust. Most of the crust was above the failure, but some was present below. I looked carefully for evidence of surface hoar at this interface but was unable to find any (the incredibly flat light at this moment wasn't helping).  

Photo 1: Blowing snow could be observed on the Little Round Top ridgeline.

Photo 2: The crust below the new snow can be observed about 54 cms below surface. 

Photo 3: ECTP 30 down 54 cms.

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