Sun crusts and soft snow on Incline Lake Peak

Location Name: 
Incline Lake Peak
Region: 
Mount Rose Area
Date and time of observation: 
Fri, 02/17/2012 - 14:00
Location Map: 
United States
39° 17' 46.014" N, 119° 56' 20.8212" W
See map: Google Maps
US


Red Flags: 
Observation made by: Forecaster
Snowpit Observations
More detailed information about the snowpack: 

Observations showed that the Jan 26th rain crust with weak facets underneath it does exist in this area. Snowpit data (see pit profile above) also showed this persistent weak layer is continuing to lose strength. Luckily the new snow on top of this crust/facet combination remains soft and relatively unconsolidated on the sheltered northerly aspects in this area. It does not represent as much of a slab here as it does in other areas. Even though the weak layer would easily break under the weight of a skier the resulting fracture did not travel any distance within that layer. On the upper elevation slopes with exposure to the east winds significant scouring had removed most of the recent snow from the snowpack. See the photo attached to this observation.

On the more sun-exposed southerly and easterly aspects a breakable sun crust existed. No other signs of warming instabilities were observed.

Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph: 
Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Cloud Cover: 
Clear
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Calm
Precipitation: 
Air temperature trend: 
Cooling
Wind Direction: 
Accumulation rate: 
More detailed information about the weather: 

Temperatures remained in relatively cool at this elevation. Highs between 32 and 34 degrees F. Some thin high clouds did exist in the sky and these started increasing late in the afternoon - around 4pm.