Thin wind slab on Ralston SW

Location Name: 
SW Bowl Ralston
Region: 
Echo Summit Area
Date and time of observation: 
Wed, 02/02/2011 - 13:00
Location Map: 
United States
38° 49' 38.8992" N, 120° 5' 52.8864" W
See map: Google Maps
US


Red Flags: 
Recent loading by new snow, wind, or rain
Obvious avalanche path
Observation made by: Professional Observer
Snowpit Observations
More detailed information about the snowpack: 

Pic 1: Moderate E winds with strong gusts. Limited new snow deposition due to lack of loose snow on above treeline windward slopes, and gusts blowing snow back into the atmosphere.

Pic 2: 2xPST(SF)40/100@5cm just below 1 finger hard wind crust, resting on fist hard DFs. 35 degree slope, W/SW aspect 8800ft. These results were consistent with other observations on the wind crust, as it easily broke under my weight but failed to propagate.

Pic 3: Thickest wind slab observed at 10cm that failed to propagate more than 1 meter. Wind slab on W/SW aspects was generally hard and thin, acting more like a breakable crust than a slab. Very localized and discontinuous. 

Pic 4: Most snow surfaces at and below ridgeline on W/SW aspects were highly variable.

 

Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
Yes
Cloud Cover: 
Clear
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Moderate
Precipitation: 
None
Air temperature trend: 
Static
Wind Direction: 
East
Accumulation rate: 
None
More detailed information about the weather: