Shallow snow on Tallac

Location Name: 
Tallac
Region: 
Desolation Wilderness Area (including Emerald Bay)
Date and time of observation: 
Mon, 01/02/2012 - 15:00
Location Map: 
United States
38° 54' 22.608" N, 120° 5' 39.4296" W
See map: Google Maps
US


Red Flags: 
Obvious avalanche path
Terrain Trap
Observation made by: Forecaster
Snowpit Observations
More detailed information about the snowpack: 

Very little snow remains on the E-NE aspects of Tallac. Above 8200' a few patches of more continuous snow cover did exist. Most of these were in areas where snow remained from last season. The rain crust and melt/freeze conditions were less prevalent in this area than they have been in the more northern portions of the forecast area. The rain crust on Tallac was sometimes supportable and sometimes breakable. At its thickest this crust was baout 4-5 inches think. In the higher elevation areas it sometimes was as thin as 1/2 an inch. The rain crust extended up to at least 9000 ft in this area. The facets underneath this crust showed signs of rounding. Hand pits and quick stability tests indicated a mostly stable snowpack.

Photo 1: NE facing bowl with lots of anchors and a few patches of snow at 8200-9000 ft.

Photo 2: Looking up the Cross where some patches of snow and ice from last year still remain.

Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Cloud Cover: 
50% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Moderate
Precipitation: 
Air temperature trend: 
Static
Wind Direction: 
Southwest
Accumulation rate: 
More detailed information about the weather: